Are you alright dude? I saw that post, hope your alright /gen

i would do a detailed thank you to everyone who said something to me but i dont know the words.

to lightly speak i struggle with a lot with mental shit and the situations around me. i dont know how to put any of this into words and i dont even feel like the words in the picture are correct im sorry.

UNPAID INTERN SCHLATT ASK

Schlatt watching y/n with the kids and just loving how they interact with them. Like Y/n hitting Schlatt over the head for teaching them about Andrew Cuomo and the kids laughing...

...I have baby fever.

...as do I, and it's his fault.

I also went very off task with this, I'm sowwy 🥺

When you got a message from Ludwig asking if you would like to be a contestant on a new game show of his, you were honestly very excited!

You were a huge streamer on the platform, but it wasn't often that you were called upon to compete in real life games!

You were a fan favorite on Name Your Price, for your style and your ability in the game, so after Ludwig pitched Unpaid Intern to you...

You were hooked.

And you were reeled in even further once you found out who you would be competing against!

Daniel Thrasher, a man of many talents and one you found yourself quote tweeting about a lot on your alt to "thank" him for his "service" in "aiding" you to "learn piano"

Lily Pichu, a lovely little lady that (when you ever encountered her) had only ever been the kindest thing to you

Kyedae, a friend of yours that you frequently streamed with and raided!

And jschlatt, infamous, Jonathan Schlatt.

A personal friend of yours!

You and Schlatt first met during the days of the Lunch Club, dark days, sure, but Ted, Charlie, himself, and yourself pulled each other up by the boot straps and created salvation!

Chuckle Sandwich was is that salvation.

And through salvation, you two had formed a strong bond. You created inside jokes for your communities, inside jokes between you and your co-hosts, and inside jokes that only the two of you would ever come to understand.

But, to say you were just friends is an understatement.

To be honest, neither of you really knew what you were.

But you both liked that!

Sure, it became a pain when trying to figure out if you could go out on a date with someone, but it was also nice because technically nothing was happening, you didn't have to hide anything from viewers.

But, Schlatt was always one of the first people you turned to if ever something happened, which, something had happened! You were competing against each other soon! You had to text him-

jslut: yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

toots💙: wat

jslut: ur on upi?

toots💙: upi?

jslut: unpaid intern

jslut: luds thing?

toots💙: ah yes upi

jslut: r u?

toots💙: yes...? 👀

jslut: kk

toots💙: ur so dry over text wtf?!!?!

jslut: i love you too, sugar tits 💙

When-

jslut: how long r u gonna be in texas for?

toots💙: couple days prob

toots💙: im trying to find ppl to film/do stuff with bc i dont wanna fly over just to do one thing and then just fly back

toots💙: productive, you get me?

jslut: film with me

jslut: ill find something for us to do

toots💙: alr but ive got a lot of bitches on my roster so be grateful im spending my time on you, slut

jslut: shut the fuck up, you're the slut here

toots💙: that's blatantly (racist/homophobic/sexist/etc.)

jslut: bye

toots💙: bye bye bbg, daddy can't wait to see you again <3

WHEN YOU GOT TO TEXAS (swear to god if you interrupt me again-)

You texted Schlatt a picture of you in the airport, stood in front of a promotional poster that had the american flag on it, saluting.

You shoved your phone back into your pocket in search of some good fucking food, but you couldn't quite focus on reading the menu while your ass cheek vibrated with fifteen (you counted each vibration) messages.

jslut: first of all, ur supposed to put ur hand on your heart, not fucking salute

jslut: second of all, what airport r u at?

jslut: i'll come get u

jslut: don't order an uber, they're shitty

jslut: i'll be ur uber

jslut: ill bring u a red fucking carpet

jslut: toots

jslut: toots

jslut: babycakes

jslut: did u order an uber?

jslut: did u get kidnapped? wtf

jslut: answer me toots

jslut: send me ur location

jslut: as soon as i see u im downloading a fucking tracker onto ur phone

toots💙: can you stop vibrating my ass for two seconds? im getting food

jslut: vibrating ur ass?

jslut: i wish

toots💙: food acquired, im at dfw

jslut: kk omw

toots💙: where should i meet u?

toots💙: r u kidding me?

toots💙: fuck u

You hunkered down in the food court to wait of the arrival of your beloved uber driver while you ate and played on your phone

You were expecting him to text you back any minute now since he never left his messages unanswered for too long (that's not entirely true, he never leaves *your* messages unanswered, ever, but he'd never tell you that, ever.)

But as 1:00pm became 1:26pm, you began to feel a little anxious

How long have you been sat here for?

Does that man want to sit here?

Should you move?

Are people staring?

Okay- just, stay seated, he'll be here soon.

Where are your headphones?

Where are your bags?!

Oh- okay, it's right there... where you left it.

And your headphones are around your neck.

Do you have your wallet?

Yeah, it's in one of your bags.

WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOUR BAGS-

"Heeey, toots! 'S good to see you again." A deep, familiar voice calls out, he has your bags too!

"I got you a baggy of fruit from seven eleven!"

"Aww, you shouldn't have!" He twirls his hair around his finger.

"Gotta feed my baby girl right."

"Alright, you're done." Schlatt announces, before bending down to grab a handful of the meat just above your knees before throwing you over his shoulder and tucking your bags under his other arm.

"Jonathan! You put me down right now!"

"No."

"People are staring!" You whisper shout.

"You called me 'baby girl' 'n the first five finger-fuckin' seconds of our first face to face conversation in three months instead of kissin' me, 'm not puttin' you down."

The walk back to his car consisted of kicking your legs, lots of people staring, a surprising amount of awing, Schlatt having to readjust your clothes every two to three seconds just so you'd keep a semblance of your dignity, and a security guard even opened the door for him!

I mean- this man could have legitimately been kidnapping you, and nobody even *attempted* to help you!

But, then again, you weren't really putting up *much* of a fight.

Once you reached his car, he opened the trunk and shoved your bags in before sauntering round to the passenger's side.

After he so chivalrously opened the door for you, he plopped you down into the seat from your perch on his shoulder, making sure to hold your head so you wouldn't bang it before he placed one hand on the dash and the other on the head rest.

He leaned you back slowly, playfully, before finally accepting his kiss from you.

It was nice.

It re-awoke the butterflies in your tummy that seemingly crisped up and died whenever he wasn't around.

After the extraordinarily drawn out kiss, you embarked on the scenic drive to Schlatt's house, where you found yourself having the first 'argument' with him in the months you hadn't seen each other.

"Where're you stayin'?"

"I booked a hotel-"

"Bull-fucking-shit I'm lettin' you stay at a fuckin' hotel, hotels are good for nothin'. You sleep in my room."

"But I paid money for that hotel room?"

"Ok? I'll pay you back."

"What?"

"Anythin' in these bags ya don't want me findin'?

"Wha-"

"I'm unpackin' for you, sweetheart."

"No, wha-"

"Ya jet lagged, go sit on the couch, watch somethin', I don' care."

Schlatt then proceeded to haul your bags upstairs and into his room, where, promptly, he shouted for you.

"Toots, I thought you said there was nuthin' in here! I've seen one of these before! 'S a.. fuckin' 'rose' vibe, or some shit?!"

"Don't touch that!"

"Whaaat?! Like I haven't seen your toys before! Like I haven't *been* your toy before."

"Schlatt!"

He also found your outfit for Ludwig's video.

"Heeey! This is cute! Gonna look like a little 50s detective more than an intern, but shit, are you gonna look adorable. 'S this your perfume? Shit, that smells good..."

He absolutely douses his own clothes in it

ONTO THE MAIN EVENT! (If anyone's still reading, anyway.)

You and Schlatt arrived together at 9:44 (which ended up giving you 2 points, whereas it landed Schlatt with 1)

After being presented with your first task, keeping a trio of toddlers entertained for fifteen minutes straight, you went straight into action.

You managed to find play dough, bubble wrap, a box of legos, some cardboard boxes, and some coloring materials!

You were the first of the bunch to entertain the kids.

"Helloooo everybody! Who do we have here?"

"Elijah!" "Rooney!" "Caleb!"

"Hey guys! I'm Y/N. Can you spell that? Let's see your handwriting, huh? On the board, can you guys write your names and then my name?"

Overall, you have an absolute blast with these guys.

First, they wanted to pop as many bubbles on the bubble wrap as they could while your phone counted down a ten second timer.

You laid out a sheet of the wrap before you all stood on your own section of it and danced, bounced, and rolled on it until the alarm sounded.

Then, the kids wanted to decorate their own boxes as cars that you pushed them around in!

A chorus of giggles and squeals could be heard emanating from the conference room from all the way across the building, even your own chuckles!

After that, Rooney, Elijah and you sculpted with the play dough while Caleb built with the lego.

Rooney made a dinosaur and Elijah made a lion, but you all gave extra props to Caleb who built all of you!

You were a little disappointed when the fifteen minutes were up, you gave each kid a high five and a ruffle of their hair before you stepped out of the conference room and closed the door (but the interaction truly ended after you pulled a face at them through the window.)

(That face definitely ended up as Schlatt's home screen.)

Next up, you were burdened with having to ensure that your backward speech is coherent and understandable!

Your key phrase was "Can I hold it while you pee?"

Surprisingly, VERY HARD!!!

You managed to get 'hold it' and 'pee'

But the rest of it?

Nada.

"Do people actually wanna hold guys'... you know... when they- pee..?" Daniel asked.

"Well- surprisingly, yes!" Ludwig, oh so helpfully, replied.

You immediately turned to Schlatt

"No, you cannot hold my dick while I piss."

Everyone erupted into laughter.

At this point, you were tied with Daniel in first!

For the map task, you were paired with Schlatt.

You two made a fucking powerhouse of a duo.

With his drawing skills and your knowledge that there was a map on the wall right to the left of you? You were UNSTOPPABLE.

And, with the last and final task, you immediately had to opt out.

The simultaneous, wet chewing sounds of EVERYONE in the room?

FUCK NO

You were not gonna be in that room for another *second*

But you didn't have to be!

You had already surpassed everyone else with flying colors.

Lud even gave you extra points for opting out because he needs a 'well-behaved employee who won't blow bubbles and stick gum to the underside of the desks.'

Schlatt did offer you some of his gum though, and when you stuck your hand out for, i don't know, a pristine, unchewed piece still wrapped in it's packaging, you got the complete opposite!

Just a glob of fluorescent pink, wet and chewed gum in the pit of your hand.

But, that's also how you found yourself here, in Schlatt's car after a long day, waiting in a drive thru.

"Today was great! You were real great with those kids, toots."

"Yeah?"

"Hell yeah!"

"I kept the lego figure Caleb made of me."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah..."

"I wanna fuck a kid into you."

"Schlatt!"

mercedes midnight runs | drabble 

synopsis: ur thirsting over jk driving you around in a mercedes

pairings: jungkook x reader

rating: R

genre: smut, angst | warnings: pwp basically (the thirst is real and unquenchable) with lidol angst ; swearing ; degradation ; car sex (pls dont do this while driving fjlaksas)

word count: 2.1k

g/n: this is the first installment for my ‘between the lines’ collection! ackkk ive been wanting to do this for so long because ive always thirsted over the boys driving and imagining jk driving his mercedes around seoul is just,,,,, eye ---- btw, this is heavily unedited nhnghgnhgn i just had to share the thirst with yall real quick 

between the lines navi. |  navi. | m.list

You’ve already planned out a quiet night to yourself tonight to rest and get your mind off of things, but all of a sudden, just as you were about to settle in bed, Jungkook sends you a text, telling you to get ready in half an hour because he’s going to pick you up and take you out somewhere. 

It isn't new news anymore that he’s texting you at this hour because he’s only permitted to go out after his schedules, which usually also end late at night. Superstar problems, can’t relate. 

Well, that and because your relationship with him warrants these types of late night meet-ups. It’s that type of arrangement you’d never thought you’d agree to, but eventually, learned to cope with. Your phone pings - a new message.

[🕺] 12:45AM

im out front

When you exit your apartment, you see an unfamiliar silver car parked in front of the building, you back up the stairs, wary of who might be inside the mysterious vehicle. The window rolls down halfway, and you see Jungkook takes a peek through the small space. 

Going back down the steps, you quickly climb inside the vehicle. “New car?” 

“Yeah, you like it?” 

You hum in agreement, tracing a hand along the sleek design of the dashboard. “It’s very...you,” you remark, in awe at how this new Benz fits Jungkook so well. “C’mere,” Jungkook tugs at your elbow, closing the distance between the two of you. “Fuck, you don’t know how much I missed you.” He presses his lightly chapped lips against yours, nipping gently at your bottom lip. Abruptly, you pull away, worried. 

“Kook...what if someone sees?” 

“I got the windows tinted. I got this car for us.” His words resonate throughout the car, and you're afraid he might hear your heart thudding strongly in your chest. You choose to ignore the implications of his words, focusing on his presence and not your treacherous thoughts. 

You give him a chaste kiss on his cheek in reply, sending a smile in his direction. You hope he doesn't see your real emotions swimming in your eyes. “Where are we escaping off to tonight?”  Internally cringing at your careless choice of words, you take off your hoodie and place it at the backseat, along with your purse, all the while giving him a generous display of your cleavage as a distraction.

Jungkook’s tongue darts out to moisten his lips. “I’m having second thoughts now, if we should really leave or not,” he says, unabashedly staring at your chest, eyeing your nipples, pert against the fabric of your low-cut top. “No bra?” 

“You told me you’d be here in twenty minutes, so I had to hurry….” 

“Wearing a bra takes you twenty minutes now?” Jungkook snorts, shaking his head at your lame excuse. 

“Yup, especially when all I could think about is having you take them off. So be grateful, because I’m doing you a favor.” You give him a wink, giggling when he huffs and starts the car. You’ve outwitted him once more. Silently, deep within the recesses of your brain, you wish you had the same amount of control you had over your words with your heart, especially when you’re around Jungkook. 

Connecting your phone to the car’s music player via bluetooth, you scroll through your recents and pick on your favorite playlist when you’re with Jungkook. ‘Sexy Can I’ by Ray J and Yung Berg comes first on shuffle. 

“That sounds like a very promising playlist.” 

Your conversation slowly lulls into silence, the two of you seated there quietly as you feel the enhanced bass reverberate throughout the new car. Leaning against the headrest, you glimpse at the man beside you, studying his features. 

Sometimes you find it funny how never in a million years did you even dream of being this close to the Euphoria crooner. If it wasn’t for your cousin Eunkyung - an idol who debuted the same year as Jungkook did, who’s likewise a very good friend of the latter, then you don't think you would even come close to breathing the same air as the global sensation beside you. 

Judging by the movement of Jungkook’s lips, you reckon he’s been speaking to you for the last five minutes, but you definitely have not processed a single word from him, for all you care. You couldn't blame yourself though, and Jungkook is certainly the one who is to take responsibility for your momentary preoccupation.

“You okay babe?” 

“Mhmmhm” 

If you were going to be completely honest, you were far from okay. Besides the many thoughts swirling inside your head, your trusty menstrual cycle tracker app is telling you that you’re bound to welcome your monthly visitor in a week - which means you’re PMSing - which further means you’re only in one certain state of mind - you’re insatiably horny. 

Unfortunately for you, Jungkook is absolutely no help at all. Not when he constantly looks like sex personified - muscular thighs, veiny arms, the whole package. Plus, there’s something about Jungkook behind the wheel that’s ultimately driving you crazy. 

A major part of it is your hormones for sure, but then again, even your hormones are thirsting over Jungkook driving, veiny forearms on display as he grips the wheel, or the way he backs up with only one hand on the steering wheel, or the way he sometimes keep a hand on your thigh as he drives. The formula is clear: Jeon Jungkook will be the cause of your insanity.

Jungkook pulls up the sleeves of his Carhartt sweater, revealing his nearing full-sleeve-tattooed right arm. The sight instantly makes you water, or wetter. Whichever the case may be. 

You hadn’t seen him in a week, busy working on his mixtape, amongst other stuff. And you miss him terribly, sex with him included. As desperate and slutty that sounds, Jungkook is that type of person that leaves you wanting, yearning for more. 

“What’s going on then?” 

“If this is about Eunkyung…you know we already talked about that…”

“I don’t wanna talk about that, Jungkook.” 

“What’s wrong then?” 

You don’t answer, just silently watching the muscles on his forearm ripple as he pulls on the hand brake when you get to an intersection. You gulp, looking away as you push your thighs together, hoping that somehow the friction will help the desire pooling between your legs. The action doesn't go unnoticed by Jungkook, whose eyes instantly  darken, now all too aware of your state. 

“Tell me what’s wrong baby girl.” 

Your resolve nearly breaks at the pet name, looking out the window to avoid his gaze. The light turns green again, and as he continues to drive, he rests a hand on your exposed thigh, strategically placing it just in the middle, the action gentle, yet enough to add fuel to your frustration. 

His tattooed fingers gingerly trace patterns on your bare thigh. Fuck Jungkook and his thing for skirts. You weren't one to complain about his sexual fantasies though, not when wearing the skirts he buys for you gets you a good fucking afterwards. 

You stay quiet in your seat, not giving the satisfaction that Jungkook gets knowing that he’s getting you all riled up. Two can play at this game. 

Gingerly, you place a hand on top of his, gently guiding his hand north towards your core. The man driving beside you lets out a cough, sitting up straighter. Keeping his hand sliding up until he’s fully cupping your core, Jungkook chokes on thin air as he realizes you’re not wearing panties either. 

“Let me guess, wearing underwear is too mainstream?” 

Shrugging, you spread your legs wider, guiding his fingers to slide against your already glistening folds. A shot of electricity runs through your spine. “Fuck, baby girl, you’ll be the death of me,” Jungkook growls, taking a sharp intake of breath as he teases you, shallowly dipping a digit through your wet cunt. 

“You’re fucking soaked. You seem to enjoy the thought, princess. Christening my car seats like the slut that you are?” He drawls, this time fully pushing a finger in as you get to another stoplight. 

“Jungkook, don’t tease me like that baby.” Biting your lip to stop the moan that’s threatening to spill, your own hand reaches out to grab at Jungkook crotch. He hisses at the sensation. You smirk to yourself. Seems like you’re not the only one who’s greatly affected. 

Encouraged by Jungkook’s reaction, you slip a hand through the waistband of his sweats, taking hold of his already hard cock. “And you’re surprised I don’t wear underwear? Bit rich coming from you now isn’t it?” 

“Better watch your mouth and stop teasing me, baby girl. You might just get punished for that.” 

“And what if I want to get punished?”

Jungkook huffs, pulling out his finger as the light turns orange. He brings his slick-covered finger to your lips, “Suck,” he orders. You oblige, sucking on his slender digit and swirling a tongue around it. 

“You’re in for a fucking treat, naughty girl.” 

It’s green again. With a sigh, Jungkook gets back to driving, this time religiously looking for a discreet place to stop over so he can fuck you properly. He finally finds a filling station, now driving with newly found urgency. 

He parks in one secluded corner of the station, with just a singular parking space separating you from a parked truck, the driver snoring away happily. 

The tension is thick in the air, inevitably making you feel hot even with the air conditioning on full blast. With no words needed to get the message across, you both unbuckle your seatbelts hastily, finding each other in a heated kiss shortly after. 

Making another grab at Jungkook’s dick - outlining against the confines of his Puma sweats, you urge him to pull them down to his thighs so you can have a taste of your alleged ‘treat’. Likewise, he orders you to lift your skirt up, giving him easier access to have you writing on his fingers alone. 

Scooting closer, you bend over the center console, taking Jungkook’s length in your hands. You place a tentative kiss on the tip before diving in, taking his cock inside your mouth. Jungkook lets out a guttural groan at the sensation, taking your hair into his hands, forming a makeshift ponytail on your head. 

“You’re so fucking hot, you know that right?” His head throws back as you take him to the hilt, the tip hitting the back of your throat. At his compliment, you swallow and as you watch Jungkook visibly shudder, you give yourself a mental pat on the back. 

As you continue to bob up and down Jungkook’s length, your hand travels between your legs, fingers easily finding your nether bud. With Jungkook starting to buck his hips upwards, helping you with your task, you quicken the pace of the fingers toying with your clit. You’re so close, but you’re doubtful you’ll even get to orgasm, considering your perched precariously over the console - definitely an uncomfortable position for you to orgasm in. 

Jungkook senses your discomfort and tells you to sit down, and you’ll both do this together. As soon as you get seated, you scoot closer to the middle, when Jungkook’s hand extends to return its attention to your dripping cunt. You give Jungkook’s erection stands tall, likewise calling for attention. Heeding to its silent call, you wrap your fingers around his shaft, stroking his length languidly. 

For a full minute, you both stay like that, trying to get each other to orgasm. Jungkook’s breathing gets labored by the second - the tell-tale signs he’s getting close. As your hand momentarily leaves his dick to massage his balls, his phone blares, startling you both out of your wits. 

Letting out an annoyed huff, he grabs the phone and switches mute button down then thrusting the device somewhere on the dashboard. Pretending as if nothing happened, you continue your handjob until Jungkook can’t take it any longer, pulling you up from your seat and telling you to come and sit on his lap. 

As soon as Jungkook pushes his seat back, you crawl over to his side, unceremoniously sitting on his lap, gyrating your hips as you slide your wet folds against the muscular expanse  of his thigh. You’re almost there, Jungkook taking your breasts in his hands for more stimulation - that is until his phone vibrates loudly against the surface of the dashboard. 

“You should probably get that,” you pull away, retreating to your seat: cockblocked for the second time. You check the dashboard for his phone, and get a glimpse of the caller’s ID on his screen. Eunkyung. 

You place the device into Jungkook’s hands yourself. 

“It’s your girlfriend calling.”

© hhyungz 2020. All rights reserved.

rodeo clown jack daniels x reader

++++++++++

happy late valentines day! sorry ive been absent for a while ive been writing headcanons on my wattpad rather than new oneshots. if anyone would like to check them out they can be found here :)

Prompt:

"Right now i dont know if i want to kiss you or shove you off a bridge." "can i pick?"

song: shes too tough by def leppard

tag list: @cynic-spirit

+++++++++

I sat at the one end of the bar and watched whiskey on the other as he looked out the window from his spot in the booth. we had been assigned a new mission together, something small since i was still training. we just had to tag some guy and get out, nothing too serious. i was supposed to be doing all the work but if worst came to worst whiskey was here to pickup the slack. but its really just because he didnt think i could do it and expressed those feelings to champ. He said I was too young, and that he didn't wanna have to babysit me when they started assigning us more missions together. more strenuous missions.

i frowned at the thought and sipped from my glass, haphazardly pulling at the hem of my short black dress. it was already past ten and the target still hadnt arrived. our informant said he would be here. i was starting to lose hope, looking from the bartender as she topped me off  and back to jack again. he nodded at me once, his eyes shifting behind me. i drew my brows before turning, the man stepping up to the bar beside me and ordering.

"ill have what she's having."

he said slyly, looking to me with a smirk. i faked a blushy moment, looking down with a small smile.

"to what do i owe the pleasure?"

i asked, looking back to him as the bartender set his drink down. he offered his hand for me to shake.

"im matt, and im celebrating."

"oh?"

i asked as he downed the whole glass. he nodded quickly, standing closer to my side and placing his hand at my back. i just watched him with a knowing smile as he motioned for another.

"can you keep a secret?"

i nodded slowly, leaning in as he got closer.

"i just closed a very big deal. one that will push my company higher than we've ever been before."

i raised a brow, looking to jack for a split second. he was staring at us intently, his hand on his hip like he was ready to attack at any moment.

"and what does that mean exactly?"

i asked and the man just stared at me until i let out a nervous laugh, one he quickly copied with an enthusiastic boast. he draped his arm over my shoulder and downed another glass.

"it means that if tonight goes well, and im hoping that it does, you could be one very lucky girl."

he said and i drew my brows, sipping my own drink as me moved to sit on the stool beside me, scooting it closer to me.

"is that so?"

i said and he nodded.

"you ever consider being a sugar baby? cause i could take care of you for just a little bit of company."

he said with a wink and my eyes went wide.

"go with me to big branding parties, let me love on you a little bit here and there,"

his voice dropped at the last bit, his hand making its way to my thigh as i crossed one leg over the other.

"keep conversations with me over text, and you could be living very comfortably."

i laughed a little to myself as he began to sway back and forth. fuckin lightweight. i nodded.

"how about we start with a trial run?"

i asked and he wiggled his brows at me, downing a fourth glass.

"is that an invitation to get out of here?"

he asked and i stood.

"you tip that nice woman behind the bar very well and it sure as hell is."

i said and he stood too, stumbling a little into me as he reached for his wallet. i steadied him as he dug into it and slapped two hundred dollar bills on the lacquered wood separating us from her.

"you have a great night."

he told her boldly, wrapping his arm around my waist and turning us around. i nodded to jack quickly before he pulled us closer to the door. i could hear jacks boots against the floor a few feet behind us as we made it outside.

"is it hot out here or is it just you?"

matt asked and i half snorted.

"oh its definitely her."

jack said from behind us, making the guy turn around confused.

"hey man, can i help you?"

he asked and i sent jack a testing look.

"just worried for her safety is all."

jack said and the man laughed.

"shes the one taking me home, you have nothing to worry about cowboy, so just head on back inside."

he instructed, turning back around and trying to walk away with me. then jack grabbed his shoulder harshly, spinning him around and colliding his fist with matts face. i gasped as he hit the ground, seemingly out cold.

"what the hell?!"

i said, kneeling down beside him and turning his face towards me. he just groaned, his eyes still closed as his nose started bleeding.

"i dont like the way he was touching you."

whiskey said and i sent him a stern look.

"this was my mission whiskey, it wasnt up to you."

i said angrily, reaching into my pocket and pulling out the tracker.

"youre bleeding matt, im gonna touch your face."

he groaned again, rocking his head back and forth as he tried to blink his eyes open. it only sort of worked. i touched his nose gently and he hissed, closing them again. i just shook my head, placing the tracker at the tip of the napkin jack handed me, shoving it into the side of his nose that was gushing red. when my phone beeped i knew it was now in the wound and working. i stood up and pressed my finger into jacks chest.

"i cant believe you. in had this."

he sent me a look.

"but now the hard parts over."

he said and i seethed.

"yes i get that on one hand i dont have to go home with him but im mad at you."

i said half annoyed and jack smirked.

"Right now i dont know if i want to kiss you or shove you off a bridge."

"can i pick?"

he asked and i rolled my eyes, looking back down to matt on the ground, eyes closed and hand holding the napkin to his face.

"no."

i said sternly looking back to him and pushing him to the side of the building.

"seriously jack why did you do that? i had this under control."

i whispered and he just stared at matt on the ground.

"i told you, he was creeping me out. and the way he was groping you was just downright disrespectful."

i laughed, taking his attention.

"and what about it?! i would've gotten back to his hotel without you if we'd gone any further anyways, so what does it matter?"

i asked harshly and he looked a little mad.

"unless you're jealous? is that why you told champ you didn't want me here alone?"

i accused and he gripped my arms, turning me and pushing me into the wall.

"i don't get jealous."

he said lowly and i raised a brow.

"then why is the target on the ground and youre all hot and bothered?"

i challenged. his grip on me tightened. we just stared at each other for a moment. he was still fuming but with the silence hung in the air like a noose i could tell he didnt have a valid answer to my question.

"so how long have you had a crush agent?"

i taunted and he let out a long, deep breath.

"im a grown man, i dont have a crush."

he said and i snorted, pressing my knee in-between his legs.

"then whats this jack?"

i said lowly and his gaze darkened.

"that darlin, is desire."

i raised a brow.

"so should i be going home with you instead?"

i asked innocently and he smirked at me.

"think you could tame this horse?"

he said smoothly and i leaned forward, close to his ear as he still had me pinned to the wall.

"why dont you take me to the rodeo and find out."

i bit his earlobe lightly and he pulled away.

"this job is done right?"

he asked and i laughed, looking over his shoulder at matt still on the ground, rolling to his side and pulling the napkin out of his nose.

"i think so."

i said, looking back to jack and he let me go, taking my hand in his.

"sorry about that!"

i yelled, matt looking to me as jack dragged me down the sidewalk.

"so is that a no on the offer?"

he yelled back and i giggled, looking to jack who had a wide smile on his face.

"guess so."

Happy FFWF! 💛 What would you say are the top 3 scenes you've ever written? This can be for any story or drabble you've written for :)

Happy (late) FFWF!!!

oh wow uh idk hmmm

this is gonna get long so ill cut it

3) This one's whumpy but I like it

"Why do you even care? You're never around anyway," she muttered, bitter and spiteful.

Tony didn't flinch, "I'm never around, huh? I don't care? Well, excuse me if I have to leave to try and keep the world spinning, or because a certain group has threatened you again."

"I don't need you to protect me all the time!"

"Because you can lift a bus? Because you think you're some kind of invincible teenager who sneaks out knowing that the UN wants to arrest you. Knowing that there is a whole terrorist organization out for your blood. And you leave the tower anyway, using your powers as a party trick."

"They're not a party trick!" she protested heatedly. She wasn't a party trick.

"But you still went to that party. You ditched Happy and left your trackers and went to a party and got drunk apparently. How long were you lying about doing that little stunt? You can definitely keep a secret longer than I thought. Though you're a terrible liar."

Penny didn't say anything, the doubts the worries and the fears all unfolding before her. She'd tried so, so hard to be exactly what Tony expected of her. Of what everyone expected of her. She was smart in her classes. She was well behaved. She tried to be what Tony had been at her age; a prodigy. Even though she wasn't.

The few secrets she'd held close to her chest--some locked deep and hidden, never to see the light of day--had been the last of what felt like her life, before it had completely crumbled. Spider-Woman was the only thing that let her know she was important, that she was okay. If she could save other people, if she could make sure that others were okay, surely she must be okay too.

"Was it a dare? Or did you make that idiotic decision on your own? To get kidnapped and Happy hurt and Rhodey paralyzed and everyone else worried out of their minds." Her breath caught. Paralyzed. "Do you think that you can do this all on your own? That some radiation and spider experimentation means that you can do whatever you want, willy nilly?"

"I don't--"

"No, this is where you zip it, all right? The adult is talking. What if somebody had died tonight? What if Rhodey had? What if Phoenix had taken the weapons they'd wanted? Because I can assure you that they don't want them to make sure everyone holds hands. Different story, right? ‘Cause that’s on you. And if you died, that's on me," he paused, but she didn't notice the fear and the guilt, as though he were reliving the moment he spoke of. All she could think of was what she'd done. And about what she hadn't done, "I'm still waiting on the why. Why leave? Why lie? Why trust Natasha and not me?"

"I didn't tell her," Penny muttered, "She found out."

"And then you swore her to secrecy. You made her promise not to tell me, because...? Because you don't trust me? Is there anything that can make me trustworthy in your eyes? What the hell do you need, Penny!?"

"I need for my life to be normal again!" she spat, not even noticing as she sprung up onto her feet, her eyes watering as she yelled, "I need to not be a celebrity! I need to see my friends and feel free in my own home without people breathing down my neck all the time! I need my dad to be here when I feel like I'm dying or losing my mind, like May and Ben always used to!!!" Her voice broke, "I wish I was just a Parker again! I wish I wasn't your daughter!!!"

Tony flinched. Tears slipped down her cheeks. They stared at each other, tense silence that stretched in thick tension between them. A storm ready to break.

She'd already broken.

Without a word, the man stalked over to her. He didn't make eye contact with her, didn't say anything. He didn't even look at her. He brushed past Penny, grabbing the bright red suit sprawled on the hospital bed.

She didn't watch him as he did, staring straight ahead at the offending wall, her breaths gasping. She couldn't think. All she could feel was regret. Her hands trembled with it, her legs shaking in fear at her own words.

Her father walked past her again, the suit clutched in an angry fist. He left.

A sob tore from her throat.

2) This one will be spoilers for the next chap for my Ashes fic, but I figure its been so long ive got to throw some bread crumbs

Tony smiled at the thought, but it quickly disappeared when the teenager flinched, followed by a guttural whine. Nightmares, he guessed.

As he was pondering what to do, his muggy mind failing him, he caught sight of a familiar matted figure. His eyes lit up at the sight of Platty sitting on top of the white hospital blanket. Moving without thinking, he reached out for it, tucking the stuffed animal up to Penny's collar. He followed the action by hugging her closer to him and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

She didn't flinch again, but the twitching and whimpering continued. He tried his best to urge her past whatever nightmares were tormenting her, rubbing soothing circles into her back and peppering kisses onto her hairline whenever there was a pained murmur.

It took a few minutes, but, finally, Penny stilled. Tony wasn't sure whether it had been his comfort or if the nightmare had simply run its course, but he couldn't find the energy to understand which. With the danger of Penny's pain gone, his eyes began to droop again, dark eyes slipping until he was consumed by slight snores.

The two were stuck in the motion of instinctual comfort. A teenager tucked against her dad's side, her cheek draped against his shoulder. A man's head curled into his daughter's hairline, asleep mid-comforting kiss. Between them, a yellow stuffed animal buoyed warmth and familiarity.

1) I just love this scene. ive very rarely ended fics so far and i loved trying it out (*￣3￣)╭

"Boss, Mr. Parker is back."

Tony glanced up from where he was working in the lab, looking away from his newest project to smile brightly at the ceiling. He stood up, wiping his oily hands off on his equally oily pants, finally conceding to grab a cloth and rub the slick grease from his fingers. The mechanic gave the new project one last glance before throwing the cloth down on the nearest table and stepping toward the elevator.

"Great. Tell him I'm on my--"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Tony turned, a confused expression turning into a small smile as he caught sight of the red and blue figure stuck on the window, waving at the mechanic in excitement. He rolled his eyes, walking over and undoing the latch on the window to let the teenager finally at a healthy weight roll into the room.

"I'm gonna start putting bug spray around the apartment until you learn to use a door," Tony warned. Peter pulled his mask off, revealing hair pulled down by sweat and a bright smile. They grew brighter and brighter every day. The teenager rammed a shoulder into Tony's playfully.

"Why can't a window be a door?"

"Because it's a window."

"Old houses in the south used to be able to transform between windows and doors to evade taxes."

Tony considered him. "How do you know this?"

"Decathlon."

Tony rolled his eyes, unsure of how he hadn't guessed that. He was going to the kid's competition next week for heaven's sake!

"Well, this is not the old south. We use doors here."

"That's less fun."

"Yeah, yeah. Go wash up for dinner."

"But it's barely five! I was going to go out again."

"Should've thought about that earlier," Tony teased. "It's family dinner night. And don't you have an essay due?"

Peter mumbled, but listened nonetheless, beginning to pad away towards the elevator to go up to their apartment suite, when there was the ringing of an oncoming call. Both of their heads turned as a screen popped up, displaying an unknown number, untraceable too. Tony and Peter exchanged raised eyebrows as the kid walked back over.

"What is this, Fri?"

"It is an incoming call from the phone Captain Rogers sent you."

Peter glanced between him and the screen warily. "That means there's a problem, doesn't it?"

"Probably," Tony admitted.

He turned to the kid, patting the kid's back and fixing him with a steady stare. Peter's doe eyes attached to his, trusting in a way that had been growing exponentially recently. Tony hadn't known it was possible to look at someone with that much trust. That much love. Especially from a kid whose first interaction with Tony had ended up in him running away, but life had become steadily calm, steadily trusting, as the days had gone by. As the months had. A few bumps in the road and a couple of mishaps, some bigger than others along the way, but good nonetheless. Yeah, life was good.

Tony liked to think he was right most of the time, but even he knew he was pretty hit or miss on how to remain any kind of relationship. But this--Tony knew he'd been right. His purpose was to protect Peter. And he loved every second of it.

"But if it is, I'll keep you safe. We'll fix it together."

Peter's lips tugged in a trusting smile. He held out a fist. "Together. MacaTony--"

Tony returned the fist bump lightly with a roll of his eyes, grinning as he caught sight of their shadows switching, "--And Peter-butter."

Whatever Steve was calling for, neither would be going in alone. They were never alone.

Their shadows made sure of it.

Trust

Fandom: TMNT Characters: Raph, Donnie, Leo, Mikey Relationship: Raph/reader Request: I love all your TMNT fics. I was wandering if you could maybe write a fic. Raph x reader, Raph and reader get into a fight and she is walking gets into trouble and calls Raph but he doesnt answer and so she calls Donnie. Reader gets hurt bad and Raph shows up and Donnie is working on reader but Leo and Mickey have tears in their eyes. Reader survives but Raph realises he needs her and super fluffy ending.

 Sprinting down the alleys, you tried to find somewhere to stop and hide. anywhere. You could heard your chasers gaining on you again so you took off. There was no point in running into the street. There wasn’t many people about and you knew the foot had no qualms about killing innocent people. You had been attacked, managing to escape by the skin of your teeth. But you could taste the blood in your mouth, you could feel the swelling around your right eye and the scuffs and bruises that now littered your body. Your clothes were ripped in serval places with blood here and there. You needed help. Digging into your pocket, you pulled out your phone. Running while unlocking it, you nearly fell as you turned a corner but kept your balance as you pulled up Raphs number. You felt nothing but fear as you pressed ‘call’. You didn’t care about the argument you had had with him the day before, or even remember him specifically telling you not to come running to him next time you needed help. Of course, he wasn’t referring to this sort of situation. raising the phone to your ear, you listened to it ringing but there was no answer. Sprinting around another corner, you saw a chain fence with some boxes stacked up beside it that you could scale. Behind it was an empty factory you only knew about because April had done a report on the fact it was abandoned due to the previous boss being involved with a mafia like gang. A female voice spoke, stating you were through to a voicemail service and to leave your name and number after the beep. You wasted no time as soon as the shrill beep sounded. “Raph, its me. The foot found me and they are after me. Im at the abandoned factory. Please hurry.” You could hid how your voice was hiccupping out of fear. You had no doubt that he would come, you just needed to hide to buy yourself enough time. Scaling the fence, you might have had a chance. Until something whizzed by your head, missing your skull by millimetres. A throwing star. It caused you to jump and loose your grip. You fell to the other side of the fence on your left side. Pain shot through your arm, hip and thigh as they took the brunt of the fall. You had tired to protect your head but at the risk of your arm. adrenaline wasn’t enough to mask the pain as you let out a cry of pain. But the pain in your thigh felt different. Looking down, fear flooded through you. You had landed on broke glass and some was now in your thigh, penetrating your thin leggings that were now darkened with blood. Thankfully, it wasn’t large shards, or you could have been at risk of slicing and artery, but it didn’t help your chances.   Scrambling to your feet, you felt every part of you ache as you focused on getting to a safe place. The foot followed behind you, a little closer now. You tried to run, but you couldn’t. so you limped into the factory, using the door which had remained unlocked since you and April had broke the lock for her to do some snooping. You remembered that there was a room in the back of one of the upstairs offices which was hidden. The door, when closed, blended into the wallpaper. Racing as quickly as your damaged body would allow. once inside, you went straight to your hiding place which you were thankful for the several bolts on the door. Once you were sealed inside, you took out your phone to try again. You called and called, with no response. You even texted him, saying he needed to pick up the phone. But another 3 missed calls later showed he didn’t have his phone. Or he was ignoring you. “Stubborn brute.” You growled through gritted teeth as you found Donnies number. Of the brothers, he was the most likely to having his phone with him. Or connected to his Bluetooth. It rung three times and was picked up. Donnie had barely said ‘hi’ when you interrupted. “The foot found me. Im in the abandoned factory.” You were trying, your voice cracking as you fought against screaming in pain. You didn’t have to say anything else about your location. You had allowed Donnie to put a tracker on your phone. “Are you hurt?” Donnie asked. The sound of Mikey and Leo asking questions in the back about what was happening. But no Raph. “yeah, pretty badly.” You winces as you looked at your leg. “Im in the back hidden room. Theres too many to fight.” “is there a window?” Donnie kept his cool which you were thankful for. You needed that right now. “Yes.” You look to the small window. “Put the phone in the window. I’ll track it. We’ll get in through the window, get you, and get out?” Donnies voice sounded like he was asking a question, probably directing it towards Leo to make sure it was a plan. Leo agreed. “Hang tight.” “What about Raph?” You heard Mikey ask in the back ground. You could hear the worry in his voice. “We don’t have time to find him. Shes hurt and they will find her.” Leo sounded angry. “We’ll be there in 4 minutes.” Donnie spoke a little louder, obviously trying to mask the argument. “Okay. Hurry.” You whimpered, before the line went dead. The fear of the situation caught up with you as you sat down on the floor next to the window, carful to keep your bleeding thigh up. Pulling your sleeve up carefully, you could see the bruising from your fall starting to form. At least you hadn’t broken your arm or hip. Sobbing, you could hear the foot tearing apart the downstairs. you tried Raph. Again and again and again. Looking back to the door, you could hear they were coming up to the level you were on. You would need to put your phone up on the window ledge in a moment. But you really didn’t think they would make it in time. Pulling up your messenger, you quickly typed. ‘I love you, not matter what happens.’ once sent, you reached up and placed your phone on the ledge, immediately feeling pain course through your arm. Perhaps you had knocked your head in your fall, or you had lost more blood than you thought, because you were feeling the adrenaline wear off. In its place was weakness and sleepiness. ‘don’t fall asleep’ you told yourself again and again as you stared at the door. Banging filled the room. They had found the door you were hiding behind. Crashing filled the room as you felt your arms across your face in defence, fearing the worst? “[y/n]?” Leos voice settled your fear as you looked up. They had came through the window, right over the top of you. “Here.” You called out, your voice weak as you tried to stand but collapsed down. “Hey, hey, don’t move.” Donnie held up his hands. “anything broken?” “No, but ive got glass in by thigh.” You told him the thing that was concerning you the most. “Okay, im going to give you some painkillers okay. And pick you up.” He pulled out some pills and raised them to your mouth. You took them and swallowed, grateful he had thought ahead. Donnie had the stronger stuff doctors used in his lab. more banging told you all that you couldn’t stay here much longer for the painkillers to kick in. Donnie apologised before picking you up. Pain spread through your body like fire as you fought to keep from screaming. Everything hurt and you closed your eyes as you gritted your teeth. “You’re doing well.” Mikey’s words of encouragement didn’t fall of deaf ears as the cool wind hit your face. Opening your eyes, you saw that Donnie was using a grappling hook to attach himself to the building and scale down from the window. Leo and Mikey raced down, making sure the coast was clear. They couldn’t exactly race from the top of buildings with you now. “My phone.” You suddenly remembered. If you had left it, they might be able to trace the others. “Mikeys got it. Don’t worry. You’re safe now.” Leos voice calmed you greatly, but it wasn’t what you needed. You wanted to hear Raph calming you, his words of encouragement. But he wasn’t here. They took you a few blocks from the factory before dropping into the manhole which would lead back to their home. “Wheres Raph?” You asked, trying to distract yourself from the pain. “He went out, not long after you guy had…” Donnie trailed off, obviously not wanting to finish his sentence or bring up the fight. “We thought he had went to find you.” you shook your head. That had been 3 hours ago. You had went home for 2 hours then went for a walk to clear your head. He must be on some roof top, brooding. “I tried to call him. A bunch of time. He didn’t answer.” You shook your head. “I think he left his phone in his room. I heard it going from my lab. I thought he had just left an alarm on or something.” Donnie looked down, feeling guilty even though it wasn’t his fault. You felt your trust in Raph dwindling. He had promised to keep his phone on him at all times in case you needed him, and vice vera. Donnie reminded silent as the three turtles slow to a walk as they made their way into the lair. The silence told you Raph wasn’t here. Donnie took you straight to the lab, placing you on the table which was thankfully clear. you heard Donnie telling his brothers what to get. He used a needle to inject you with some more painkiller while grabbing some scissors to cut some of your legging. “What else hurts?” leo asked you, his eyes scanning your body for any more signs. You told him about your arm and hip, then your bruises and scraps and how you got glass in your leg. “I think we need to remove the glass first. I don’t think you need stitches, but we need to clean the wound.” Donnie said and Leo agreed. “The only thing is it will take time for the pain relief-“ “Screw the pain relief. Its fine. Just get the glass out.” You told Donnie, earning a worried look from Mikey, but everyone knew. You only had a little time, and without the strongest anaesthetic or pain relief or blood transfusions, you needed to get fixed now. Leo disappeared for a moment and came back with a leather strap for you to bite on. But it didn’t help. Screaming, Mikey was then assigned to hold you down. He apologised the entire time as Donnie pulled each shard from your leg. You didn’t think there was that much, but it felt like he pulled out glass after glass after glass. You screamed the entire time. “[y/n]!?” A voice called through the lair and everyone seemed to freeze. Donnie looked up at Leo, unsure of what to do. Leo seemed to have a plan as he walked up to the door as Raph came racing in. you could see the fear in his eyes when they found you on the table. but Leo was in front of Raph in a heartbeat. “Move!” Raph growled at Leo, but he didn’t. “She doesn’t need this right now.” Leo spoke in a calm voice, but you heard some venom behind it. “I was away for a few hours. Why didn’t you protect her?!” Raph pushed Leo back. “Perhaps we could have. If she hadn’t put so much faith that you would.” Leo didn’t fight back, didn’t raise his voice, but his words cut through Raph. They were angry at each other, but Leo was right. You didn’t need this. You didn’t need them fighting and Mikey and Donnie so on edge that they cant help you. Leo had more medical knowledge that Raph, and Raph didn’t know what had happened so far or the full extend of your injuries. So you said something you never thought you would ever have to say to Raph. “Raph, can you just leave? Please?” Your voice held no venom, no angry or aggression but it caused Raph to freeze. He didn’t look at you, or he couldn’t, you didn’t know. he looked at Mikey, who was shaking quite badly and on the verge of crying. Then to Donnie, was had your blood on him, then to Leo. All the colour seemed to drain from his face. And he left. When Leo turned back towards you, you saw he had tears in his eyes. And you understood. They were scared. You closed your eyes, tears streaming down your cheek as you tried to regulate your breathing. “[y/n]? we have to continue.” Donnie said, placing his hand on your shin to offer some “Okay, okay.” You nod, putting the strap back in your mouth as Mikey braced himself.

---------------------------time skip ----------------

An hour or so later, and you had passed out. When you awoke, you were in the bedroom which you use to sleep in when you stayed at the lair before you and Raph had been together. Donnie came in to check on you when you woke up. He told you that you had been asleep for 12 hours, and they were starting to get really worried. Donnie had to put about 4 stitches in 2 of the wounds but he said the rest just needed paper stitches, which you were grateful for. You had thankfully just bruises your arm and the rest of your injuries were easy to see to. “Thank you.” You smiled, grateful for Donnies vast knowledge. “You’re my sister. Theres nothing to thank.” Donnie shook his head, just happy you were still alive. “Could, could you see if Raphs about? Ask if he can come in?” You ask, hesitating a little. You didn’t like sending the brothers as messengers between each other, but Donnie nodded and left. A few minutes later, there was a quiet knock at the door. “Come in.” You called, unable to quiet your own racing heart. You didn’t want to be fighting with Raph, and you didn’t want him to blame himself for this. Raph came in like a kicked puppy. He walked across the room and sat on the sofa that was by your bed. “Leo said to give you this.” He held out something to you. Your phone. “Oh, thanks.” You smile, taking it and placing it on the bedside. “i-I eh, I didn’t have mine on me. When you had tried…” Raph trailed off, unable to even look at you as he struggled to find the words. “yeah.” You nod, unsure of what to say. “I’m sorry.” He breathed, closing his eyes and shaking his head. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” “I know, I know.” You say in a soothing voice. “[y/n], you could have died!” Raph snapped a little, but not at you directly. “I know, but I didn’t.” You shrug. “Donnie thought you’d shattered your bones.” Raph shook his head, unable to understand why you sounded so care free. “But I didn’t.” You point out again. “We thought you weren’t going to wake.” Raph looks up at you, bewildered. “But I did.” You raise your eyebrows at him. Raphs gaze was one of utter confusion, and it breaks your serious facade. You couldn’t help the grin that pulls at your lips or the chuckle that leaves your throat. But it seemed it was what the room needed, as Raph ended up having a smile pull at his lips. It cleared the room of the tension and the awkwardness. However, Raph did stop smiling as he thought. “you texted me saying you loved me. After you’d phone Donnie. Why?” He asks, his eyes darting to your phone and back. He had read your messages, seen how you had tried to call him and probably listened to your voicemail. “Because I wanted you to know that. I knew when you found out what was happening that you might blame yourself. But I know you wouldn’t put me in danger on purpose or not help me to be malicious. I just wanted you to know that I held nothing against you if the worst happened.” You explained to him, unable to stop tears from forming in your eyes and cascading down your cheeks. Raph nodded looking away from you as you saw tears pooling in his own eyes. You had never, ever seen Raph cry. “I love you. You know that, right?” He asks you. He looked… concerned. “Yeah, of course.” you nod, unsure why he would ask such a question. “do, do you still trust me?” He asked, seemed terrified of the answer and you suddenly understood. trust was so important in your relationship. You didn’t mean trust as in infidelity. It was the sort of trust that allowed you to fall and know he’d catch you. The type that told you he was always close when you needed him. The trust in his vow to keep you safe. You paused, trying to think of your answer. While you didn’t hold any grudge against him for your injuries, you couldn’t say if he would be the first person you called if something happened again. “I want to say yes, but it wouldn’t be entirely true.” You finally say. You didn’t want to lie to him and part of him probably knew the answer already. Raph takes a deep, shaking breath before nodding. “but I want to.” You add, offering him a lifeline. Raphs head snapped to your own, as if to make sure you had actually spoken and it wasn’t his imagination. “Really?” He breathes, hope in his eyes. You nod with a smile, confirming what you had just said. “I’ll do anything, anything you want.” He vows to you, moving from the sofa to kneel beside you. You smile and take his head, giving it a little squeeze but you felt a small pain niggling in your leg. “Could you ask Donnie for some more pain killers?” You ask, wanting to stop it before eit starts. “yes, of course.” Raph jumps up, ready to run to Donnie but you didn’t let go of his hand. “But first, you could start with a kiss.” You smile sweetly. Raph all but melts as he leans down and gently presses a soft kiss to your lips. He was highly aware of all your injuries, but couldn’t deny you such a request. you were about to reach up and touch his cheek, but you felt a sharp, shooting pain in your right shoulder. Raph quickly moves away, afraid hes hurt you but you just smile as you let go of his hand to rub  your shoulder. “Right, pain meds.” He nods, his new task in the forefront of his mind. “I’ll be right back.” He rushes off to find Donnie. You couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t much, but it was a start to regaining that trust.

Stupid - Steve McGarrett

Pairing: Steve McGarrett x Wife!Reader

Warnings: not really. Hospital I guess

A/N: This was a request from wattpad. Hope it’s okay.

***

“You know Steve is going to kick our asses for being out here, don’t you?”

You glanced at Joe and gave him a smile. “I’d like to see him try.”

Joe snorted a laugh and the two of you fell back into your companionable silence. Steve, Danny and Chin were at some state event with the governor, some senators and who knows who else. Despite Steve pleading for you to accompany him, you’d managed to get out of it. You hated those types of things and your husband knew it. Of course, Steve hated them too, but he was head of 5-0. You were not.

You, Joe and Kono had been at headquarters when the call came in about a missing girl. At the time, it was unclear if she had been kidnapped or just wandered off somewhere. Kono was with the family and Joe came with you. You were a tracker. It’s what you did. Even when you were in the Airforce, you’d been the one they called when they needed to find someone. Until you knew for sure what you were dealing with, there was no point in calling Steve. He was on a different island entirely and by the time he got back, the situation might already be resolved. 

Stopping suddenly, you crouched down in the weeds and examined the area around you. A tattered yellow blanket laid in the mud a short distance away. You left it in place. While all evidence pointed to the girl wandering off by herself, someone had met her here. You hoped it was a good Samaritan and that even now the girl was on her way back to her family. But good Samaritans didn’t tend to leave things behind.

You followed the tracks a little deeper into the weeds away from the road until your eyes fell on signs of a struggle. Shit. Returning to your full height, you found Joe a short distance away watching you. “I still think she walked off on her own, but someone grabbed her here. And they weren’t friendly about it. Get locals in here to take photographs and process her blanket.” You pointed in the direction of the worn fabric. “I’m going to keep following their path. You can catch up.”

Joe hesitated and you could tell he wanted to argue with you going off by yourself, but just like you, he knew time was of the essence. Finally, he nodded and you continued on your way, your eyes automatically picking out the trail as you went. Anything you thought imperative, you photographed with your phone, uncertain when you’d be able to come back to it.

You kept expecting the tracks to curve back toward a road, a car, civilization, something. But they just kept heading further away from any of that. At one point, the girl’s tracks disappeared as she was picked up and carried. You were surprised she made it as far as she did on foot honestly. She was only four and that was a long walk.

Eventually, you arrived at a rundown cabin. A thin wisp of smoke floated from the chimney. A glance at your phone showed no signal which didn’t surprise you in the least. You’d left the sat phone with Joe so he could make the calls he’d needed to make. As you drew your weapon and eased your way toward the house you gave a brief thought to your friend and wondered just how far behind you he was.

You stepped carefully through the weeds as you approached the little hovel. Peering through a dirty window, you made out the girl laying on a small bed near the fire. It was impossible to tell whether she was breathing or not and you sighed in relief when she turned over. So, she was alive at least.

A flash of movement reflected in the glass caught your attention. A sharp, heavy blow crashed down on your temple as you turned and your world went black.

***

When you started to come to, you were surprised to feel crisp sheets under you and the heavy weight of an IV in your arm. You’d fully expected to find yourself still laying in the dirt and weeds. He must have hit you pretty damned hard, and the throbbing in your head confirmed it.

The room was quiet except for the gentle humming of the machines and you wouldn’t have been surprised to find yourself alone when your eyes finally fluttered open. Instead, your gaze immediately found the broad back of a man standing by the window. He had one hand hooked around the back of his neck as he stared out at the scenery.

The fact he wasn’t in the chair beside you spoke to his worry. Steve had always been a nervous fidgeter. “What’s a girl have to do to get an aspirin around here?” Your voice was low and a little rough but it caught his attention just fine.

He turned quickly and ran his eyes over you, grinning when he saw you were fully awake. He was back at your side in an instant and kissed your forehead before grabbing the chair to pull it forward. After sitting right beside you, he grabbed your hand in his, being careful not to pull on any of the equipment attached to you. “How you doing, sweetheart?”

“I’ve got a hell of headache. How are you?”

He gave you that sideways grin that still made your knees weak after two years of marriage. “Better now.”

“The girl?”

“She’s fine. The guy that found her claims he just wanted to help her. Needless to say, no one’s buying it, especially after he hit you. You spooked him showing up like you did and he took off. Joe tracked him down.”

You sighed in relief and closed your eyes. Even as dim as the lights in the room were, they still made your head hurt. The pain was worth it though if the distraction you caused had anything to do with that girl being all right.

“I need to ask you a question, Y/N,” Steve said. Something in his tone had you opening your eyes to look at him.

“Okay.”

He released his hold on your hand and pushed himself to his feet. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Your brows lifted in amusement as he paced away from the bed, hands moving through the air in agitation as he spoke. “Continuing to track him on your own was one thing, but then to approach the house without backup…Were you trying to get yourself killed?”

You said nothing. When Steve got like this, it was better to just let him get it out of his system.

“I mean, you have done some stupid things in your time, Y/N/N but this takes the cake.”

Okay, you knew he was upset, but you weren’t going to just let him call you stupid. “I don’t know, marrying you might have it beat.”

Steve spun to face you with a narrowed gaze and hands fisted on his hips. “Come again?”

“Well, you know, I was out there in that grass and I totally wasn’t thinking about that little girl and how scared she was or making sure she was okay. Instead I thought, God, marrying Steve was really stupid. Maybe I can get out of it by getting myself killed. Or at least if I get hit really hard I might get amnesia and forget about him.”

“Ha ha. Very funny, Mrs. McGarrett, but you’re stuck with me, as you well know.”

“Damn it.”

He looked at the floor though you could still see his lips twitching up into a smile.

“Better?” you asked and held out your hand so he could take it.

His fingers wrapped around yours and he sat back down. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“It’s just a knock to the head, Steve. I’ve had worse.”

He hummed in agreement and nodded. “I didn’t know that when Joe called to tell me what happened though. We’d just landed at the airport and all he could tell me was that they’d found the girl and you were alive but unconscious and on your way to the hospital.”  

Not having a response to that, you simply squeezed his fingers as a reminder that you were still there.

“Why didn’t you call us?” he finally asked. “As soon as the case came in, you should have called.”

“All indications were that she had just wandered off. And might I remind you, that’s exactly what happened. She didn’t get picked up until later.”

He shook his head. “Missing kid is more important than sweet talking the politicians.”

You huffed a laugh. “Not if you want to keep getting away with the shit you get away with, McGarrett. I don’t particularly wish to have to visit my husband in prison. Besides you look horrible in orange.”

He laughed. “So that’s how it is, huh?”

“That’s how it is. Now, how about that aspirin?”

Sunday Stumped Day 29

It’s another Sunday Stumped Day!

Sometimes we straight out get stumped. So every few months we will pick a Sunday when we’ll post of a list of asks that we need your help on.

This time around we have focused on Asks that are looking for specific fics. 

If you know the answer to any of these asks please shoot us a message/ ask/  with the Post number and the fic details and we’ll add it and give you a shout out with our thanks. Any links you can provide will also be super helpful.

Thanks!

Post 1 , Post 2 , Post 3, Post 4, Post 5, Post 6, Post 7, Post 8, Post 9, Post 10, Post 11, Post 12, Post 13, Post 14, Post 15, Post 16, Post 17, Post 18, Post 19, Post 20, Post 21, Post 22 , Post 23, Post 24, Post 25, Post 26, Post 27 and Post 28 can be found here - and there are still fics we need your help with. 

495. theman189-blog said:

Also looking for a growing together fic where peeta and katniss are painting a room ar one point and they get in a paint fight, at the end when peeta has katniss over his shoulder she draws a heart in paint on his lower back

494. theman189-blog said:

Hi there, just read a fic where katniss and peeta were peacekeepers and fall in love called protect and serve, and I could have sworn there was another one where they're peacekeepers and fell in love but had a more concrete ending and I cant remember it... any thoughts?

493. breakmeaswitchson said:

Hi! So I posted asking about this on a sub in Reddit and got directed here, it's not specifically an Everlark one (I don't think) but if you could help I'd be so thankful! Basically, it took the characters from the 74th Hunger Games, but the twist was that they all had to work together in designated groups? And (I think) weren't allowed to turn on each other until nobody else was left. I'm pretty sure Rue and Clove were on a team together, and I think the setting involved abandoned buildings.

492. jayana90 said:

Hi! I'm looking for a specific fic from Peeta's POV. I read it about a year ago & now I can't find it. It begins at his house in 12 with his family, then traces nearly all of the Hunger Games trilogy. It ends with a chapter with Peeta & Katniss living in 12 years later with their kids and a bakery. I think they loved cheese bread? It was really long and so good, I hope to find it again. V smutty.

FOUND! The Sexual Frustrations of Peeta Mellark by PeetasAndHerondales, which has sadly been deleted. - thank you, mistressnightshade!

491. allflowerscatchthesunlight said:

Fic name needed: I recall Peeta was taken by the capitol and then there was trackers embedded into his skin or something and he was found by the squad while in the capitol to kill snow. They cut it out of him. Also katniss was pregnant, but miscarried.

Found!  Secret Wishes, Secret Kisses by @katnissdoesnotfollowback -- thank you KDNFB!

490. jsth2obooks said:

Hi I read this fix a while ago and now I'm trying to find it. It's Modern day Katnisss and Peeta have to go to a high school reunion an they pretend to be either together/engaged. At the end they end up with a child. Thanks in advance

FOUND! Somewhere That’s Green by Jlala. Thank you, @fangirlingoverquotes

489. uglydora15 said:

I read this fancition about Katniss and Peeta post mockingjay and Katniss was pregnant I think for the second time and Peeta has a flashback and Katniss caught him kissing someone else in the bakery and he had to beg for her forgiveness

Possibly There Are Still Worse Games to Play- The Second Part of Our Journey by panskiss123.  Thank you, @sunsetsrmydreams

488. bad-fad said:

Hi so I think there’s a fix where mr. Mellark like takes in katniss when she’s young (I don’t think prim existed in the story but I could be wrong) and she grows up with the Mellarks but I can’t remember?? If not maybe some recs along those lines

Possibly - “Kinship” by Misshoneywell - thank you @endlessnightlock

possibly Star by HGRomance  - thank you @nightlock-89

Possibly the deleted Lion’s Tooth by Alexabee

487. craftydiva0828 said:

Looking for a story where after the war, Katniss rides the trains searching the districts for Peeta; people search for loved ones by posting their pictures at the train depot bulletin board.

FOUND!  when the far-gone dead return - writingforhugs (Thanks, @ladymurphyevermore!)              

486. bookworm06 said:

I was wondering if you guys know about a fic where Peeta woos katniss slowly, they dare secretly for a long time i think. And then Katniss comes out in this beautiful orange dress(peeta’s favorite color) to announce their engagement. She’s dressed up for a feast or party in the district or something! I loved this story but can’t even remember the name 🤦🏻‍♀️

FOUND! -  I Knew This Would Have Happened Anyway by @abk1973 - thank you, @litharalen

485. cowrintimrousbeastie said:

Hello! This is actually the first time I'm posting a question, I usually enjoy doing the detective work. This time though, I've looked high and low and can't find it... it's a drabble posted on tumblr in several parts. Peeta is living with his girlfriend Delly but during one of his baking workshops discovers that this longtime best friend Katniss is in love with him (she has him as her phone screen saver). She works at the library? He confronts her and she says forget it as he is happy w/Delly..

FOUND!  By @cowrintimrousbeastie herself!  It is How Long by @ra3lynn3.  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 , Part 4 and Part 5.

484. beautiful-harmony1 said:

Hello! Thank for your great work. I am looking for a fic I read a while ago. Post-mockingjay. Katniss is really sick and Peeta comes homes a realises. He takes care of her. On her “death bed” she talks about this that would have happened between the two. I’m pretty sure some bursts in and say “we found a cure”. Thank you so much

483. thehopefuldandelion said:

So I’ve been craving to read this fic that hopefully I didn’t make up and I’ve been trying to remember it’s name. All I remember is that Katinss and Gale(I think) are dating but when Gale would go to sleep Katinss would text Peeta. I’m pretty sure they were coworkers and couldn’t date bc of this. I know that she broke up with Gale but that’s all that my brain can remember. I’m sorry if this is vague or you can’t find it. I just wanted to read this again. Thanks for all you do for the community❤️

FOUND! This is After Hours by SoThere -thank you, @mendontprotectyou!

482. redhoodhungergames said:

I’m looking for a fic where peeta goes to this hotel (or something) and finds Katniss who works there as a singer. I remember when talking we hear that Katniss is from Virginia

481. just-absolutely-super said:

There’s a pre-epilogue fic I read about Katniss and Peeta growing back together. I can’t remember all the details but I think in the fic Katniss finds out Peeta painted Prim and it upset her? Toward the end she’s outside his bedroom door and confesses to him that she loves him. Thank you!

Possibly - The List of Words by MyKonstantine - thank you, @jennagill

480. peetniss27 said:

OK i must be going crazy, but this fanfic is about panem being a bunch of islands and they all do a computer session and are matched with their spouses after being “reaped” and Katniss was dating peeta and ended up with gale. It was called the islands but idk the new name please help!!!!!

FOUND!

Are You Leaving Me? - iloverueforever (*Thank you, @superchocovian!)

479. uniquepizzacollectionblog said:

Hi, i"m looking for a fic where katniss and peeta and best friends and have slept with each other in the past and now the sexual tension is coming back, maybe you guys know of this story?

478. xgetawaycar13 said:

Hiiii so I’m looking for a fic in which Katniss and Peeta get married in catching fire by order of snow and they are also forced to have children but I remember that at some point someone told Katniss about how all the girls at school liked Peeta so she got jealous and have him a blowjob Thank youuu I already look through your master list about marriage in catching fire but I couldn’t find it:(

FOUND.  This is Have Heart, My Dear by monroeslittle.  Thanks @finestunicorn.

477. ochri said:

Hi i'm looking for this fic from fanfiction It's a post-MJ fic and there's this one chapter where katniss peels? her skin off her fingers and then Peeta takes her to hospital. That's all I really remember :/

476. nikki-pondtheauthor said:

hey im curious if there are fanfics in which peeta learns how to use a bow and shoot arrows (taught by katniss). bonus if he does this in hunger games. im sure ive a read a fanfic before, that was awesome in my opinion because it is a bit out of character for him but highlighting the fact that he is a survivor too and can handle weapons even if he is more a friendly persona

475. white-dandelion-seeds said:

Hey, can you find me this story- Peeta helped Katniss to escape when her family was being killed. But he got captured and was made a slave. Later he helps Katniss to take revenge of the death of her family

474. chippedcupsandbrokenhearts said:

Ok do you know the name of Fic where Katniss finally gets away from her abusive marriage with gale and goes back to her family. They didn’t know she was being abused. She falls in love with Peeta and I remember at one point gale found her and her family drives him out of town. I read this YEARS ago and now I just randomly had the urge to reread it but can’t remember the name. Thank you!!!

Possibly - A Safe Place by HavishamWard,but this fic has been deleted. Thank you, @endlessnightlock

473. jillpill55 said:

Hi, I love your page and have read probably a hundred fics because of it. I hoping you can help me find this fic I read a couple of months ago. Peeta was captured and when he came back he couldn't kiss Katniss because of a implant snow had put in peeta's leg. I would be a mutli-chapter and may or not be finished. Thanks

Possibly - Rekindling by ShiningCity.  Thank you, @sunsetsrmydreams

472. svmn14 said: 

There was a story about Peeta suffering from an undetected hijacking attack timed 10 years after the last Games where he was designed to hurt Katniss 

FOUND!  This is Broken:  Scenes from the Sequel by MockingJayFlyingFree.  Thanks @sunsetsrmydreams

471. hiyosakura said: 

Hello! I was wondering if you could help find this everlark fic. I’m not sure if it’s completed or not but it also has hayffie in it a bit I think. So the story is that k and p fall in love before their games and they meet at their tree in school or something but then they get reaped and I can’t remember what happens after that but during the quarter quell Katniss is actually pregnant and Peeta and Katniss are able to communicate with their lips touching.

FOUND! That’s 74th Hunger games Challenge: We Always Were - Jamie Sommers(*Thank you, @superchocovian!)

470. ptx-holic said:

 Hi, i’m looking for a fic where katniss is in a relationship with gale and then she met peeta and they are in a relationship but they caught katniss having two relationship and katniss move to somewhere and then she came back few years later and met peeta again. I’m sorry if this is confusing for you but i can’t find it. Thank you :) 

Do any of these fics ring a bell? Please let us know!

Dragon Dancer IV: Sacred Fire

The person formally known as Lu Mingfei climbed into the truck bed without assistance. Despite his dire condition a mere few minutes ago, he had regained a good amount of his strength and I could see why he was such a threat to Hybrids even now. 

“I’ll keep watch. Don’t stay too long.” The cold eyed girl called Zero looked up at me and for the first time, I saw reflected in the light of the moon, the World Tree emblem of Cassell.

“I don’t think we’ve met but... thank you.”

“Save your gratitude. I need you to help free Z.” She said, turning away from me and eying the surrounding woods.

“Z...?” She didn’t answer and my heart dropped a little at her coldness.

I returned to Mingfei and stood awkwardly. The harpoon was still in his chest. A constant rivulet of blood had stained the entire front of his shirt in a dark, sticky red. 

Once again I felt useless and remained at a distance, watching him. I wasn’t sure how dragons ate their own. I understood that he had shattered the skeleton of Fenrir and used it as armor, somehow absorbing the power into himself to unleash destruction on our hunters.

Now seemed different, he stood between the two corpses, his eyes lowered. He raised one hand to his chin, deep in thought.

I folded my hands behind me and looked around, but there was no place in the dark trailer to hide or sit down. “Should I... step outside?”

He raised his eyes to me in confusion. “Why?”

“Well...” I looked down at the shriveled but still remarkably preserved bodies.

“Are you uncomfortable around death?”

He was looking at me seriously. 

“I know what its like to lose friends. They were... your friends. Your children almost. Right?”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Keep in mind that these are the ones who banded with the humans to kill me. Remember?”

“Yes... I ... remember.” The record of the wars of the dragon kings was well recorded. It was one of the few extensive records that people still had.

“Tell me what you’re thinking, Ouroboros.”

I didn’t quite understand why he cared what I thought. He should understand better than I did. Those fearsome golden eyes lit up the space and held such ancient wisdom. 

“When you were still Lu Mingfei, you were friends with him. You always held the sorrow of losing him with you. Even though you fought and killed him in the end, Lu Mingfei... he kept Old Tang on this Starcraft Friends List. He never deleted him.”

My eyes fell to the shriveled corpse. “Lu Mingfei would be sad. He wouldn’t cry because he rarely ever did. He held his sorrow inside. And...”

“Would he not eat him, even in a weakened state?”

I nodded in confirmation.

“Hey.” Zero was back at the truck, holding out a phone. “It’s for you.”

Who would be calling me? The answer to my mental question popped up immediately. Zihang! He must have gotten EVA sorted!

I hurried to take the phone. Zero immediately stepped back out. Mingfei watched me with open curiosity.

“Hello?”

“It’s Zihang. What’s happening now?”

“I have Mingfei and I’m with a woman named Zero. We managed to escape with out civilian casualties. Mingfei was hurt but he’s recovering. Did you fix EVA?”

“Her programming was restored thank to Fingel’s phone app that could do it. I’m good at hacking but her programming is too robust, even for me. She’s ordered all units to stand down and retreat, but EVA doesn’t control all of the Secret Party though. Be cautious of anyone you see.”

“Yes...”

A voice suddenly cut in, a low tenor growl. “What is this? Are you sure you’re really married?”

“Caesar!” I was so happy I couldn’t help but sigh with joy.

“Listen to that! Just a sentence and she sounds more an love with me than with you!”

“Ah...” Chu Zihang mumbled. “I forgot to tell you this is a conference call.”

I pressed the phone to my ear grinning. “Did you find Nono?” I turned to Lu Mingfei reflexively expecting him to share my joy but his blank expression brought me back to Earth.

He wouldn’t feel anything for Nono now.

“EVA has made defending Japan far easier. The Japan affiliates have gladly agreed to having me lead the school board from now on. I’ll be picking new members after this is over.”

The hard edge to his voice made my skin crawl. The fury in those blue eyes, as dangerous as bared fangs, appeared in my vision and I cringed. “Of course, I’ll go along with this.”

“I will nominate you, Carli. You have proved to be courageous and calm under the most intense pressure. You’ve managed to fight and foil the plans of the strongest forces in the party. You’ll be invaluable.”

Mingfei’s eyebrows raised at me. But I shook my head. “No... thank you for your generous offer. But after this, Zihang and I will retire...”

“I understand how you feel but my offer is firm and there will be a seat for you at the table whether you decide to sit in it or not.”

My mouth worked but nothing came out.

“The next order of business. Lu Mingfei. Is he a dragon king or not?”

“No. He’s not.” The words came out immediately. “He was created in the same laboratory facility as Chisei, Chime and Erii... in fact, he underwent the same procedure as Chime and Erii that split their personality and left him susceptible to the woodblock sound that made him lose control of his dragonblood. Chime used his Dreamworld skill to reunite his personality.”

“Reunite... his personality?” Zihang’s voice was soft but the subtle questioning tone was enough to pull at my heartstrings.

“That’s right Zihang, I know how much you care about Lu Mingfei, but that was only part of him. The Lu Mingfei we knew... wasn’t the real one. The one we knew is gone...”

Silence on all lines.

Caesar spoke first. “...unexpected. Does he remember anything of his past?”

“He remembers everything but...” I eyed him. He was still staring at me in close observation no doubt listening.

“In order to restore him to good standing with the party he will have to go through a thorough interrogation...”

“Well... if I expose the secret lab where he was, won’t that clear his name?”

“You know where it is?” Zihang finally spoke, but his voice was even and emotionless.

“Yes. I don’t know the exact coordinates, but I saw a vision in the dreamworld I can teleport to. Does my tracker still work?”

“Yes, I will get an immediate read on your location.”

“You put a tracker on your wife?” Caesar bellowed in outrage.

“Yes. Your job would have been a lot easier if you put a tracker on Nono.”

Caesar let out a bark of laughter before snarling. “And to think I considered putting you on the school board...”

“I must decline.”

“I didn’t offer!” Caesar shot back before addressing me again. “You’re going there now?”

“Yes... there’s someone there Mingfei needs to see. After that, I can finally come home.”

“Keep in contact.” Caesar ended the call abruptly.

I kept the phone to my ear, listening to the silence on the other end for several seconds. I worried that the news of Mingfei’s mental change was affecting Zihang so I didn’t address it. “How is Ru’Yi?”

“She’s fine. But, her Soul Skill is not Time Zero.”

“It’s not?”

“No. Enxi had to use her Soul skill to break down the train system and get us to Cassell... Ru’Yi also used it.”

“She has more than one?”

“No, it seems that she can use any Soul Skill she’s exposed to.”

My jaw dropped. “Oh... oh my god.”

“Yes. We probably shouldn’t tell anyone about her ability.”

“Yes. I agree.” My hand gripped the phone tightly. If anyone found out about this...

“Contact me as soon as you’re in the lab. Try and take photos. I have to go.”

“Okay... Love you.”

“...love you.”

I hung up and looked at Mingfei. 

He finally spoke. “I have questions. Caesar is now the head of the Cassell College.”

“Yes.”

“He holds you in high regard and insists you rule with him. But you refuse.”

“I have no interest.” I wanted nothing more than to go far away with Zihang and Ru’Yi and live a normal life. I wanted nothing to do with the filthy upper echelons of power among hybrids.

“Why?”

“Because there’s a saying... the scum rises to the top!” I leaned wearily against the cold metal of the truck.

“I have another question. Why did you lie and tell him I’m not a dragon king?” He asked.

“Are you a dragon king? Only if you act like it. If you act like a human, you are human. If I told them you were a dragon king, they would never treat you any different...” I folded my arms over my chest and looked away.

“No matter how I act, it doesn’t change what I am.”

I stomped my foot, and it reverberated the metal truck. “Yes it does! In Cassell, I learned that if the Dark King awakened it would bring forth a cataclysm! Millions of people would die! Human civilization would fall! Humans would be enslaved to dragons! Could you do that? Sure! But why let people define you? You’re the Dark King! You can be whatever you want! If you want to go on a tear and kill everyone, you’ve already proven that you can. If you want to turn me into a monster right now, you can! But you haven’t done that. You haven’t eaten Norton and Constantine.”

“Unless you actually do those things, you’re NOT the Dark King! Understand?” I raised my eyes to him. “If I had told him you were a dragon king, Caesar would have thought that he had no choice but to kill you. He would spare me because I’m a woman and still technically your wife in his eyes. He wouldn’t expect me to be loyal to the Cassell in the face of our supposed love.”

“But they would hunt you, corner you, and force you to fight. Hundreds... maybe thousands would die in the battle. You would die! The cataclysm would come even if you didn’t will it! You... and your power... it’s attracts and brings out the violence in people. It’s waiting to explode out! My story will cover your actions tonight, but if you continue to do what you’ve done, I can’t save you!”

I laughed. “We have another saying. ‘Only the Dark King or the New Dark King can kill the Dark King.’ And its true. The future is up to your choices from now on.”

He grunted softly and gripped the harpoon. He pulled it out, teeth gritting in pain until it was freed, it fell to the floor with a loud clang.  “I will have to eat Constantine to survive the mercury pool and rescue Z. It’s not because I’m a Dragon King. Constantine and Norton are dead. What happens to their bodies is not a moral dilemma.”

His scales fluttered up his arms and sparked with an emerald fire. The flames roared out from his hands and engulfed the body of Constantine. But no heat was coming from the flames and the body didn’t react like he was being burned. Instead it reacted as though it were being dissolved into crystal powder.

Alchemy! 

I’d had a vague sense of the practice from my studies at Cassell, but this was the first time I’d seen it performed by a dragon. What looked like sparkling dust surrounded Mingfei and settled between the iron-like scales on his hands and back and face.

The darkblue scales continued to spread round his body, covering him completely. He looked more lizard than ever. I half expected a forked tongue to come from his mouth.  The heat coming off him came over me, like I had opened the door of an oven.

I backed away as he approached and gripped the body of Norton in his clawed hands. He stalked toward me.

I couldn’t get out a protest. His hand was closed around arm burning my skin. I reacted automatically jerking away from him. He ignored my cries of pain. “Take me to Z.”

I struggled to concentrate, eyes sparking tears, but the images in my mind came without my wanting them to. The pillars, the hissing, steaming pools of mercury, the boy pinned to the cross.

I just wanted the burning to stop so I made the jump, clinging to that location in my mind. The dark and cold of the Nibelungen offered a welcome relief.

out of reach [part 3]

pairing: peter parker x stark!reader

summary: you, peter, and your class are all on a trip to europe.  when peter decides to go after mysterio, you want to help in any way you can.  but being tony stark’s kid and peter’s best friend, you can’t help but see how much he’s changed.

warnings: angst, injury, ffh spoilers i guess?

a/n: the final part!  i’m sorry it’s literally taken me way too long to post this.  i really enjoyed writing this short series -- thank you guys so much for the support and love :)

taglist: @kaitlynmalikisnotonfire​ @whatareyouhidingpeter​

** TO MAKE A REQUEST -- please check the status in my bio **

masterlist

----

Peter’s body was aching in pain when he woke up.  He almost wished he could go back to sleep, but then he remembered how he got there in the first place.

He sat up fast on the bed he was in, panicked.  

Stars twirled in his vision, making him groan.

“Ugh, what happened?” he muttered as he rubbed his eyes.

“You got your ass handed to you.”

He turned to see Nick Fury sitting in a chair next to his bed.  He looked stern as always, but there was a small look of worry in his one eye.  

Fury leaned forward.  “So you thought you could take the bastard on by yourself?”

“No...” Peter mumbled.  Seeing Fury burn with annoyance, he stopped.  “Yeah.  I’m sorry.”

“Oh, it’s not me who you should be saying sorry to,” Fury chuckled.  

At that moment, Peter watched you walk through the door of the small room.  For as well composed as you often looked, he could clearly see that you had a storm brewing beneath the surface.  He found himself looking down at his bandaged hands.

You glanced at Fury.  “Well?”

“He just woke up,” he replied.  “You’re lucky she found you when she did, Parker.  You wouldn’t have lasted, even with your super strength.”

“I could’ve --” Peter started.  He looked up to see a menacing glare from you.

“Could’ve what?” you shot.  “Finish that sentence.  I dare you.”

Peter twiddled his thumbs.  “I’m sorry.”

“You damn well should be!”

He flinched.  

You were never really one to get mad, but you’ve been angry about a lot of things.  You didn’t know why your father had to be the one to sacrifice himself.  You were suddenly basically heir apparent to your father’s legacy and Pepper’s current leadership, and you were only in high school.

On top of it all, you were dealing with a friend who probably felt all the things you did, but he refused to let you help him.  You couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.

Peter reached for your hand, cradling it carefully in his bandaged fingers.  “Y/N, I’m so sorry.”

“You’re my best friend, Peter,” you said, your voice cracking.  “Do you know what I would’ve done if I lost you?  I don’t even want to think about it.”  

You covered your mouth, trying to regain your composure.  

Tears filled your eyes.  “Stop being so reckless!  There are people here who care about you!” you sobbed.  “Even Fury!”

Peter glanced at said ex-director, who gave him a look.

“I’m sorry,” Peter said again, his voice soft.

You choked back a cry.  “Are you really?”  You wiped your tears.  “When are you going to realize that you don’t have to do everything on your own, you idiot!”

You looked at him with anger, sadness, and pain.  When you received the same look from his eyes, it broke you even more.  

Fury’s phone beeped.  He glanced at it for a moment before rising from his seat.  “It’s Hill.  Something’s forming in London.”

You took a deep breath to keep your emotions in check.  You quickly checked the location of the tracker you gave Ned before you left, and you frowned.  “The class is in London,” you said.  “I’m guessing Beck wants to eliminate everyone who knows.”

“We have to stop him,” Peter said, ripping the electrodes and IV needle out.  

You reached forward to touch his bruised side, making him wince.  “You sure you’re up for it?”

“Yeah,” he replied confidently.  “I have you.”

You smiled before starting for the door.  “Meet me and Happy on the Stark jet when you’re ready.”

He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

“You weren’t expecting to fight Beck in that black ninja-turtle outfit, were you?” you laughed.  “No offense, Fury.”

“Yeah, well,” Fury chuckled.  “Better get your ass ready, Parker.”

It was a couple of minutes before Peter arrived in the hangar.  

He gave Happy the biggest hug when he boarded the jet.  You smiled as you opened the control panel, bringing out a portable work table and all files involving potential suits your dad had ready to make for Peter.  You touched the emblem, missing your dad even more.

“What’s this?” Peter asked as he came over.

You smiled at him.  “For you,” you said.  “Dad was never one to be unprepared, so he made drafts of some suits.”

Peter looked overcome with emotion before a determined look dawned on his face.  “Well, let’s do this.”

“You’re on, Spider-man.”

--

Needless to say, by the time you and Peter were in London battling Mysterio, things couldn’t have been more chaotic.

You were reluctant to leave Peter battling him alone, especially when he was so close to death a few hours ago, but you both knew that saving your friends was the highest priority.  

You flew close to the street, trying to lose some drones you had on your tail.  

“ENSO!  Where’s Ned?” you shouted as you turned to blast the drones behind you.

“Directly ahead with some of your classmates,” the AI confirmed.  “Happy is with them.”

“Try to reboot EDITH’s systems.  We have to put an end to this before more people get hurt!” you said as the suit hummed, flying faster.  

“The program Mr. Stark originally wrote for EDITH makes it impossible for me to override,” ENSO said.  

You rolled your eyes and groaned.  Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.

Then you saw Happy leading Ned, MJ, Flash, and Betty down an old road.  You quickly landed in the underpass, your suit retracting into your reactor as you ran over.

“Guys!” you called.

“Y/N!” Ned shouted.  “Behind you!”

You turned, your suit instinctively covering your arm as you blasted a drone to bits.

“Holy shit!” Flash screamed.  

“What happened to the jet?” you asked Happy, ignoring Flash’s bewilderment.

He sighed heavily.  “Missile.”

“Figures,” you muttered.  “Alright, well, follow me!”

You began running down the path with everyone else following quickly behind.  You glanced at potential hiding places, but nothing seemed safe, especially if the drones fired on sight.

You stopped at the top of the hill, puffing your cheeks out with frustration as you looked around.

“Y/N,” Ned started.  “You should go help Pete -- I mean, Spider-Man.”

You frowned.  “I can’t just leave --”

“We’re fine, Y/N,” Happy said.  “Just go.”

You reluctantly nodded before your suit covered your body in an instant.  You blasted off quickly and flew back to the bridge where most of the firefighting was going on.

You could see Peter swinging through the bridge with occasional drones blowing up in his wake.  He was moving quickly, too quickly to think clearly.  Though his movements were frantic, you could tell he had a grasp on what he was doing.

Mysterio was in a walkway looking over the bridge, pacing up and down in a motion capture suit.  Annoyance made you fly up to him through the glass, pinning him to the wall.

“Another Stark,” he croaked as your grip around his neck tightened.  “You’re quite hard to get rid of.”

“Same with you,” you seethed.  “Call off the drones, Beck.  We know your plan.”

“Oh, do you?  EDITH?” he chuckled as the glasses he wore began to glow.  “I’d like you to take care of my pest problem, please.”

You were blasted out the way you came in, falling through the sky in shock before you came to your senses and flew away, keeping your distance.  A group of drones was on your tail, making you roll your eyes as you flew throughout the bridge.

“Well,” you said to yourself.  “Welcome to London.”

Some drones were too slow to keep up with you while others crashed.  You were occasionally hit with blasts, some of them making your suit shatter.

“Oh, come on!” you groaned.  “ENSO, a little help here!”

“Activating all systems,” your AI said.  “Initiating flight assistance.”

The plan appeared as a glowing path in the view of your HUD.  It seemed possible, but you’d lose more than just paint on your suit.

You let the suit do its thing, but as you continued to fly, more and more drones seemed to be chasing after you.

“Alright, ENSO, I’m taking over,” you said.

“Y/N?” you hear in your radio.

“Pete!” you exclaimed.  “Please tell me you defeated Beck already!  I have a lot of drones sniffing my tail!”

You could hear him breathing heavily.  “A bit far from that.”

Your helmet shattered from another blast, making you panic as you felt the wind against your face.  You turned around to shoot at the drones, the nanoparticles in your suit shifting to your hand repulsers.  

You could barely keep yourself flying when you began free falling.

Peter’s hand around yours kept you from falling any further.

“Hold on, Y/N!” he shouted.  “I’ll get you down!”

There were smoking burns on his suit.  The mechanical eyes of his mask widened as he saw your fear-filled eyes.  

“Agh!  Come on!” he shouted as he struggled to hold onto the railing.  His web-shooters buzzed but powered down.

You looked below, seeing the great distance from where you were down to the street.  There was a likely chance you wouldn’t survive the fall, but on the off chance you did, you’d take it if it meant that Peter could stop Beck.

You grunted as you reached up with your other hand, trying to peel his fingers away.

“What are you doing?” he screamed.

“You have to let me go, Peter!” you yelled back.  

You peeled off the last finger, hearing his cry as your body fell fast.  You mustered what nanoparticles you had left down to your hands, making a weak repulsion that slightly cushioned your fall.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, but you didn’t seem to mind.  In fact, this was the one peaceful moment you’ve had ever since your father’s death.  You hadn’t had a chance to come to terms with reality, refusing to believe you were living your nightmare.

Hitting the pavement is what snapped you from your daze.  The repulsers were barely enough to cushion your fall before you went rolling, hitting your head against a car bumper.

You groaned as you looked up to see Peter crawling into the walkway, and relief made you sink further into the ground, exhaustion taking over.

Maybe you were going to die.

It wasn’t long before Peter had made his way back down to you, his face tired and bloody.  He instantly ran to you, propping you up in his lap.

When he looked at you as he held you, he saw him.  All the memories from the last battle with Thanos came flooding into his head, all control slowly slipping from his grasp.

“Y/N?” he said, his voice filled with fear.

You smiled tiredly.  “Hey, Pete,” you said.  “Did you get him?”

“Yeah,” he replied.  “I’ll go and get help.”

You shook your head, closing your eyes.  “It’s alright.”

He shot you a skeptical look.  “Y/N, it’s not alright at all.”

You smiled sheepishly.  “I have a pretty hard head.”

When he laughed, you couldn’t help but laugh with him despite your bruised ribcage.  

You playfully punched his shoulder.  “Promise me we’ll fight bad guys together in the future, okay?” you said.  “Don’t go off on your own.  We’re all we have now.”

He gave a bittersweet smile.  “Like I said, it’s hard to keep a Stark out.”

“Damn right.”

operation omega - recon (iv)

summary: years after the avengers dismantle HYDRA, the group remerges more dangerous than ever. their modus operandi? infiltrating foreign governments, stealing and reproducing their weapons, and selling them to terrorist groups. when the us government approaches the avengers for help on a secret operation with a secret asset, they are reluctant to agree. it isn’t until their quinjet almost gets shot down in the middle of nowhere when the understand that omega means business.

pairing: bucky barnes x SEAL!reader

words: 3.7k

warnings: swearing, recounting of violence/morally ambiguous acts, slight angst

a/n: italics are flashbacks (but yall alrdy knew that) and it kinda gets intense. and i barely edited this ha.

taglist: add yourself here!

OPERATION OMEGA MASTERLIST

Bucky’s been on hundreds of missions before, but for some reason, he’s nervous about this one.

Logically, he knows he has no real reason to be: Omega was the most skilled people the world had. If the Avengers didn’t have enhanced individuals, he knows that Omega would be running circles around them.

But from where he sat in the hot, dusty market, he could feel is heart thump in his throats as he listened to Y/N give orders through the comms. Every time she spoke, Bucky could feel his throat tighten. He knows it was his own fault that he wasn’t helping Natasha and Dr. Marge break into the suspected HYDRA factory. Instead, he sat at an outdoor patio in a chair that was way too small for him.

---

“You’re late,” Y/N says in full Captain mode as Tony scurries inside the command room.

“Semantics,” he said weakly before her stern glare quickly shut him up.

“I know we’re friends,” Y/N started as she paced around the front of the command room, “but on the field, I am your Captain. If I give an order, you will follow it. I don’t tolerate people going off and shooting the shit. This isn’t just your reputation on the line, it’s ours too. Do I make myself clear?”

She gets a chorus of affirmative responses.

“Chain of command is me, then Steve, then Jack, then Abigail. If Abigail loses the chain of command, you make an emergency abort, clear?”

Another chorus of affirmative replies.

Y/N’s lips crook upwards. “Good.”

---

Steve sat across from him, sipping tea and pretending not to look suspicious. Hordes of people were walking through the market—if they only knew how many deadly soldiers were in the market with them.

Or, of course, that the factory mass producing high-tech weapons smack dab in the middle of the market.

Steve’s disguise was more elaborate than Bucky’s; while Bucky was relatively unknown compared to the other Avengers, Steve was an international symbol of American patriotism. Y/N had almost forced him to sit the mission out and take a tactical role as opposed to an operational role. Steve only convinced her to let him on the ground just in case there were enhanced guarding the building.

Y/N only barely agreed.

Bucky wore a loose linen blouse—light enough for him not to fry under the blistering sun, but loose enough to easily hide an ultra-thin, Vibranium tactical vest and an array of small firearms and combat knives. His hair was tied up in a half-up bun with tendrils falling to hide any distinctive facial features. Steve, however, had to wear a cloaking mask, similar to one Natasha used when she infiltrated Alexander Pierce’s office. His face was barely recognizable, and his tunic was extra baggy to hide any muscle. What made Steve especially uncomfortable was that he didn’t have his shield.

“Everyone in position?” Y/N finally asks through the comms.

“Nat and I are in position,” Marge says quietly, trying to stay hidden from any possible guards.

“I got eyes on I have visual on Stark and Wilson. Oversight is in position,” Dom says from the jet silently hovering above them with cloaking on.

“I’m clear,” John says from the other side of the market. Bucky can see the tint of his reflective sunglasses from the corner of his eye.

“Abi and I are clear,” John says from a rooftop on overlooking the market.

“Bucky and I are clear,” Steve says from across the table.

“Good,” Y/N says. “It’s fourteen-hundred hours. Nat and Marge, you’re clear to enter the building. And for the rest of you,” she pauses, “if you fuck this up, I’ll kill you myself.”

Bucky gulps and give Steve a wary glance.

“You okay, Buck?”

“Peachy.”

--

“Our mission is to infiltrate this building,” Y/N calls out as the projection of the map in the command room zooms into a satellite photo of a market. “A couple months ago, Omega gathered intel confirmed by the BND that this is HYDRA’s main manufacturing plant.”

“It’s small,” Sam comments.

“It’s efficient,” Y/N corrects. “It’s smack dab in the middle of a market, so it’s easy for their parts suppliers to make deliveries disguised as legitimate businesses. They only assemble the weapons here; they get their parts elsewhere.”

“What’s the point storming the building if they can just send their parts to a new facility,” Tony asks the obvious.

“Because HYDRA loves efficiency, meaning this is most likely the place where they have information on all their suppliers, who they’re delivering the weapons to, and who their assets are.”

“Assets?” Bruce asks.

Y/N nods, “Moles within every global superpower, we suspect.”

“Jesus…” an Omega team member whistles.

“So, what’s the play?” Steve asks from his spot beside Bucky.

With a swipe on her phone, the collage of information on the large screen changes to show a map of the area surround the factory, as well as blueprints of the building itself. Y/N crosses the room as she speaks, “Natasha and Marge have the most experience gathering intel and getting in and out of a building undetected as fast as possible. I want you two to get inside that building and copy every single piece of information you think is useful. Make sure not to take anything with you; I want it to look like we were never there in the first place.

“Stark, Wilson, Barton, you guys will handle the aerial surveillance. Barton, I want you stationed on the roof across from the factory. You’re the extra set of eyes and ears on the inside. Stark, Wilson, I want you suited up in stealth mode and surveying a five-block perimeter. If anything, suspicious comes anywhere close to the factory, I want to know. Dom will be hovering the Quinjet in stealth over us, but aerial support is an emergency level plan. The minute we expose the Quinjet, it’s game over for Omega.

“The rest of us are going to be on the ground in different areas of the market with me running point from a hotel room guarded by Jack. We’re there for backup support only if necessary. We only make ourselves known if Nat or Marge’s tracker goes down.”

“Wait,” Bucky cuts her off, shifting his weight off the desk behind him to his feet. “You’re telling me that if something goes south in there, we can’t go get Natasha or Marge?”

Y/N rolls her eyes, but her gaze tenses on Bucky’s face for a second. Why are you challenging my authority? she wants to say. Bucky had been nothing but kind and was great company. But he’s stupid to think that Y/N would tolerate this level of subordination.

“Do you realize what happens if we expose ourselves?” Y/N quips snarkily instead. “It’ll take seconds before the international community realizes that foreign military is deployed in a country outside our jurisdiction, which might I add is hostile towards almost every country in the UN. Then amidst all the political chaos, HYDRA goes back into hiding and we’re back to square one. We’re treading on thin fucking ice, Barnes.”

Bucky admits that she makes a good point, but he doesn’t fully trust her. Not yet, at least. “So, hypothetically let’s say Nat or Marge gets caught, tortured, and possibly brought to a secondary location; we can’t get them?”

“As long as their trackers are live, we don’t engage.”

“But what if—”

“If what Barnes!?” Y/N shouts, her steely stare piercing through his skull. “You’ve been here a couple of fucking weeks, so as much as you think you’re fitting in, you don’t know how we run missions here. Nat and Marge will have cams, and Clint is our extra eyes just in case. God forbid things go south, we proceed with our emergency extraction protocols to make it look like we just happen to be the regular military rescuing hostages and not secret operatives! If they ever get brought to a secondary location, we follow their trackers through satellite and jet until the moment they go down, but by then we probably have satellite tagging on them anyways!”

Bucky knows she’s made her point and that it was premature for him to publicly question her authority. But he let his pride get away and his mouth run faster than his common sense, “You could have told us all that in the first place.”

Y/N is livid. She slowly struts towards Bucky, the people in her way slowly moving to the side like Moses parting the Red Sea. She stands far closer to Bucky than she’s comfortable with, but the quick flash of fear in Bucky’s eyes at her body language is enough to make it worth it.

“No, I didn’t,” Y/N says, eerily quiet. “Do you know why, Barnes? Because as long as you are on my fucking base, I am your Captain and I will not tolerate your blatant fucking disrespect. Your orders are to not engage unless Nat or Marge’s trackers are down, do I make myself clear Sergeant?”

Bucky gulps, “Crystal.”

Y/N smirks slightly before turning on the heel of her boot and continuing the briefing.

--

“Marge, Nat, you’re clear to enter the building,” Y/N says into the comm. She’s in a hotel room facing the market with Jack. While Jack is assuming another surveillance position, Y/N is seated at a desk with a laptop which monitors Marge and Nat’s video feed.

“Copy,” Marge says quietly, “We’re entering the building. We’re limiting verbal contact…now.”

“Ya know,” Jack says from his spot at the window. He has a sniper scope trained through a window of the building in case something goes wrong inside. “You didn’t have to go so hard on Barnes during briefing.”

“Yes, I did,” Y/N mumbles, attention still focused on the video feed in front of her.

Jack chuckles slightly. “He’s an Avenger,” he says, “not a SEAL. He may not know how we do things.”

“He was army,” Y/N says, sending him an annoyed glance.

“Like…90 years ago. And wasn’t the whole ‘Howling Commandos’ thing to liberate POWs and shit? Seems like a field where you would question orders to me,” he retorts.

Y/N turns to look at him with an exasperated. “Who’s fucking side are you on, anyways?” she bites back. Jack only chuckles.

Y/N returns her attention back on the screen. Though she’s trying to concentrate on the video feed, her mind wanders back to Bucky. She gnaws at her lip; Was I too hard on him? she thinks.

No, she eventually decides. But deep down, Y/N feels a sense of hurt. She liked Bucky—he was kind, a good listener, and very understanding. She didn’t let just anyone join her on her morning run. Worst of all, Y/N thought that Bucky respected her. Clearly, Y/N decided, he did not. Why else would Bucky question her authority and her orders not only in front of the world-famous Avengers, but also her own teammates?

Stop being distracted, you’re working, Y/N quickly tells herself. She takes a deep breath before glancing at her watch. Marge and Wanda have been inside the building for five minutes, meaning they have five minutes remaining before extraction.

“Status report on all teams?” Y/N asks into the comms.

Bucky barely hears her voice in his ear. He barely registers each team reporting their status. Instead, he focuses on the man sitting a few tables away from him. The man, most probably a local, is staring straight at Bucky’s face while quickly talking to someone on the phone. Bucky’s instincts begin to kick in.

In the middle of Clint’s status report, Bucky nudges Steve with his foot. “I think we’ve been made,” he says, trying not to look panicked.

Bucky watches a flash of panic flash across Steve’s eyes before he says, “What?”

Bucky turns his head slowly in the direction of the man, “The man at that table has been staring straight at me and is on a phone call like his life depended on it.”

Steve purposefully knocks a teaspoon off the table so he can bend down and properly look at the suspicious man. Sure enough, the man was talking on the phone erratically while staring in Bucky’s direction. Steve frowns and looks slightly past Bucky at another table. At that table, a woman and a man are seated, presumably on a date. The woman appears to be having the time of her life while the man, Steve notices, is giving knowing smirks to the man on the phone.

Steve sighs, “Buck, I think that guy is just jealous of the date going on at the table behind you.”

“Are you sure, because I swear—”

“Rogers, Barnes, status report?” Y/N’s voice through the comms finally cuts them off.

Steve gave Bucky a look as if telling him to drop the subject before speaking into the comms, “We’re clear—”

“Negative. We’re not clear. I think we’ve been made,” Bucky cuts him off.

“What!?” Y/N screeches into the comm, “Jack, Clint, I want eyes on Barnes and Rogers!”

“Who am I looking for?” Clint replies.

“Guy in the green tunic a couple tables down, north of the patio. He’s talking on the phone,” Bucky says, shifting in his seat slightly.

The line is silent for a few seconds before Jack says, “Barnes, I think you’re clear.”

Bucky seemingly ignores his update and asks again, “Clint, you got a visual?”

Steve gives him a confused look, as if asking him what the hell he’s doing. Bucky ignores him.

“I don’t have a visual,” Clint replies, “but I’d go with what Jack said.”

“I have a visual,” Wanda suddenly cut in. She was at a fruit stand across the street, pretending to be shopping. “You’re clear, Barnes.”

Bucky looks across the street and catches Wanda’s gaze. Can’t you read his mind or some shit and figure out if he’s made me? he thinks to her.

Wanda rolls her eyes before tapping her head twice, No.

Of course, it doesn’t work that way, Bucky thinks.

“I’m sorry but you guys can’t see the way this guy is looking at me,” he says stubbornly, “I’m taking this guy out.”

Bucky goes to stand up and Steve reaches his arm to stop him when Y/N voice rips through the comms again. “No!” she shouts and Bucky grimaces.

“If we’re made, backup is going to be here any minute now, and Marge and Nat are still in there!” Bucky hisses.

“We have intel that the people in this village aren’t aware of what’s going on in that factory, Bucky! There’s no backup that this prick can even call! And I’m not letting you kill an innocent fucking civilian,” Y/N yells back at him.

“Well fuck your intel, I’m going after this guy—”

“I am your commanding officer and you will stand down!” Y/N finally shouts, sounding more like a drill sergeant than the girl he goes on morning runs with. “That’s a fucking order, Sergeant. Do you copy Barnes?”

Bucky is silent. Instead he clenches his jaw so hard he’s afraid his teeth might shatter.

“Do you copy, Sergeant?” Y/N repeats again, eerily quiet and deadly serious.

Bucky’s nostrils flare up in anger, but he resettles himself back on the seat.

“He copies,” Steve finally says into the comm.

The rest of the mission goes off without a hitch. Bucky was wrong about the man on the phone. As Marge and Natasha exited the factory, unharmed and undetected, the man on the phone got up and in a jealous rage, stormed over to the happy couple behind him.

He tried his best to prepare himself for the berating he was going to get from Captain Y/N later, but nothing could prepare him for the treatment he was getting now.

Y/N was silent the entire flight back to the Omega compound. Instead of yelling at him like there was no tomorrow, she quietly prepared the intel to be sent over to her commander. When they landed back at the base, he got sympathetic pats from his teammates as they unloaded the Quinjet. ‘You’re in for it, Barnes’ and ‘Tell me if you make it without crying,’ the Omega team members told him seriously.

As he unloaded the last crate of equipment, Y/N briskly walked past him and said with deadly fierceness, “Command room. Now.”

After everything that happened earlier in the day, he didn’t need to be told twice.

Bucky slowly opens the metal door towards the command room and has to shut his eyes tight for a few seconds to allow his pupils to adjust to how especially dark the room was. As Bucky wandered inside, he noticed the only light source was from Y/N’s desk on the loft overlooking the rest of the command room. Her voice stops him dead in his tracks.

“Your paranoia is going to get us killed,” Y/N says, her voice echoing through the room.

“Y/N—”

“No, you don’t get to talk yet,” she cuts him off once again. He watches her silhouette stand from the desk and walk down the stairs to stop in front of him. He can barely see her face but can make out some features.

“When I was in the SEALs, I was Jack’s unit commander,” Y/N tells him, her voice getting softer, “We were in a remote fishing village off the coast of South America rescuing high profile hostages. There was a fiesta that night and the entire town gathered on the beach for a party. It was the perfect time to rescue the hostages because we were disguised by the music and the lack of civilians in town. While I was on a base somewhere, hundreds of miles away, Jack sends a panicked message to mission control over the comms. There’s a group of people close to the site where the hostages were being held. It was too dark for them to make anything out, but that group of people started shooting at them. Not close enough to hit them, but I was paranoid that they might get hit even though they were wearing full body armour. Jack asked if he had permission to engage because taking them out was against the rules of engagement for that mission—they were only supposed to shoot at adult individuals that they could clearly identify. As the commanding officer of that mission, it was my call. And I gave Jack the go ahead to take the shot.”

Y/N stops to take a shaky breath, and he swears he hears a sob. “They were just kids, Bucky, no older than fifteen. They were used by the captors as easily dispensable firepower who were just doing that to make a few extra dollars to take home to their families. We could’ve easily averted them and tied them up. But I was the one who gave them the permission to take the shot.”

Bucky reaches for her, but he can’t find her arms. He sighs, “That’s not your fault, Y/N. You know that. You were worried for the safety of your team.”

“Then why have a felt haunted by it ever since?” she cries.

Instead of gently trying to search for her arms, Bucky quickly steps forward with his arms open. Bucky rams Y/N into his chest and her arms immediately wraps themselves around his waist. Bucky holds her closely while she sobs choked tears into his chest.

A tear escapes Bucky’s eye as well before he has the heart to ask her, “Is that why you left the Navy?”

Y/N lets out an ironic scoff. “No,” she retorts, “it’s because they awarded me the Navy fucking Cross. And I know I don’t deserve it.”

“I know what I say won’t change what you’ve done and how you feel about it,” Bucky tells her honestly, “But those SEALs are alive because of you. Jack is alive because of you. They got to see their families because of you. I know we don’t trade lives or value someone’s life after another, but your orders were to first and foremost bring those SEALs home safely. And you did that.”

They stay like that for another ten minutes—Y/N burying herself into Bucky’s torso and Bucky resting his nose in the crook of her neck.

“My paranoia is what kept me safe from HYDRA,” Bucky says honestly, murmuring into her neck. “After I escaped from HYDRA, I didn’t trust anyone. I didn’t trust Steve, the rest of the Avengers, or myself. When I was in HYDRA, the longer I trusted my own fucked up brain that what I was doing was right, the more unspeakable shit I did. When I started fighting the brainwashing, I started being paranoid of everything and look where that got me? I’m alive because of it.”

“No,” she whispers, “you’re alive because you learned to how to trust again. You’re alive because you know that even though trusting is scary, it’s better than living in constant fear. You’re alive because you’ve found things that are worth trusting.”

Bucky’s speechless. He pulls away slightly, glancing down at her. He still can’t fully make out her facial features, but he can tell she’s staring at him with a sternness that reminded him of his mother.

“Do you respect me?” Y/N whispers.

“Of course,” he replies without hesitation.

“Do you trust me?” Y/N asks again.

Bucky’s voice catches in his throat. He feels his Adam’s apple bob and his heart pound against his ribcage. Yes, he wants to say so badly. But he can’t and he can’t say why, and he’s embarrassed for it.

But Y/N offers him a small, gentle smile. She reaches up in the dark to cup his face, but her hand lands on his neck instead. “You don’t have to trust me,” she tells him, “I’d like it if you could trust me, but you don’t have to. But I need you to respect me in the field and in front of our teams. I’m still your CO, Barnes. And as much as I like you, I’d really hate to have to yell at you again.”

Bucky chuckles softly, “Is that an order, Captain?”

“It is, Sergeant. Do I make myself clear?” she says in a light tone, grinning at him.

“Yes, ma’am,” Bucky replies, lazily grinning back.

FIVE: YES MA’AM

---

tags:

operation omega: @marvelsangels​​ @1-800-schmacked​​

marvel: @milea​​ @marvelsangels​​ @thecurlsofgod​​ @schnapped​​

bucky barnes: @emilielskov​​

The Beloved Big Sister Of 1-7, feat. The Beloved Number Five

“Diego used to use his big sister as a punching bag. She would block every swing and kick without fail. And as such, when he aged to be stronger as a teenager, he never had to worry about hurting her. Eventually even Luther stopped worrying. It’s weird, but it’s their thing. It’s what they do.” -Allison

3/??

1 2  4 5

Thanks to all who are enjoying the story, let me know what you think, what you’d like to see, your favourite things etc.

I wanted it to be longer but guess what? I use my phone and this has reached the 100 word block limit. Yay.

(Spoilers/info):In this chapter we see all her powers and almost all the limits of them.

‘Griddy’s?’ Five shoved a wallet of hastily collected house money into his pocket.

(X) laughed. ‘I’ll drive, you go in and order.’

Five nodded and jumped to the passenger seat.

‘No injuries?’ She asked, sliding behind the wheel and turning the key.

Five rolled his eyes, scoffing with a grin. ‘I’m fine.’

She glanced at him as she shut the door, mirroring his expression. She put her foot down hard and they were pressed into their seats.

After a hairpin turn to get around the corner near the drive, Five spoke up.

‘Where’s your car?’

‘I ran here.’

Five turned in his seat to watch her in surprise. ‘You surged here?’

‘Mm.’

‘That’s exhausting.’ His tone was concerned.

‘I wanted to see you,’ she said, looking away from the road for a moment to smile at him.

Five felt warm and small again, the knowledge he had her back again sinking in a little further. ‘I’ll have to introduce you to Delores. She’ll love you.’

She didn’t ask, just hummed in agreement conversationally. ‘I’ll look forward to it. How are your jumps? Still strong?’

‘Very, I got a lot better over the years. Though I won’t be trying the time jump again if I can help it.’

‘I can see why.’

Five was silent as they sped down the road. After taking a moment to enjoy the familiarity of her skilled driving, he spoke in a blunt tone.

‘(X), I want you to help me stop the apocalypse.’

She merely nodded. It came to neither of them as a surprise; the only person Five would ever openly ask for help from was her.

‘Coffee first,’ she said as the indicator clicked to turn into the shops. ‘Get me a latte.’

They pulled up outside and Five opened the door, marched around the front of the car, over the parking lot past a just-parked tow truck, up the steps and through the doors.

(X) laughed, hearing his heavy footsteps even with the door closed again, and turned to reverse the car.

When she walked through the doors Five was sitting beside the tow truck driver, a lady behind the counter taking their order.

‘Can I get the kid a... glass of milk? Or something?’

‘The kid wants coffee,’ said Five flatly. ‘Black. And one latte.’

‘Cute kid,’ said the lady to the driver as (X) walked up to the counter, leaning on it a stool or so down.

She saw the innocent, delightful grin Five plastered all over his face in response and tried not to laugh at the lady’s unease.

Being that he was her kid brother, Five was cute, just not if you called him such.

Awkwardly, the lady turned and looked at the woman, who looked 19 yet wise enough to be 200, and asked for her order.

‘I’m the latte,’ she said, tilting her head toward the cute kid.

The lady nodded and turned. (X) sat down beside Five, glancing at the truck driver.

Five glanced at him too, then around, and sighed. ‘Don’t remember this place being such a shit hole,’ he said quietly to the man.

(X) raised an eyebrow.

‘Used to come here as a kid. I used to sneak out with my brothers and ate donuts til we puked. Simpler times, huh?’ said the 13 year-old bodied Five.

Awkwardly, the driver responded with a ‘uh... I suppose.’

Feeling too sorry for the driver, and quite tired after having no moment’s rest since learning of Five’s return, (X) stood up and stretched a little, heading for the car for a book. She put a reassuring, comforting hand on Five’s upper back as he panicked a little seeing her moving away from him with no explanation. One subtle communication is all it took and Five returned to his conversation.

-

When she returned with a book, Five glancing to determine it was her returning, her latte was waiting.

She paid little attention to the small talk between Five and the man, pulling a bit of paper that sat in front of her brother towards her. Some address was written on it. She picked it up to use it as a bookmark and set to work on her coffee.

The driver left shortly after and after a long sip of his coffee, Five looked around for the paper.

He spotted it between her fingers with a scowl and stopped searching.

‘I found a glass eye in the apocalypse, seems to belong to the person that caused it. That address is the factory. We can’t do anything until it opens tomorrow.’

They drank silently, enjoying the coffee until the doors opened again. Both paid it no real mind until Five studied the reflection in the bell, seeing someone ready to hit his sister in the back of the head.

‘Don’t bother; she’s not a civilian,’ said Five, putting his coffee down. ‘Hm. That was fast,’ he continued, ‘thought I had more time before they found me.’

With no change of expression (X) looked up from her book to stare straight ahead, concentrating on the situation.

‘Okay,’ came the voice of a man right behind her head, ‘so let’s all be professional about this, yeah?’

Knowing from those words that Five was about to cause a scene, (X) surged power through her body to age it by a few years, to around 24.

Not turning his head, Five glanced over. Her body peaked its physical strength at twenty-four and a half, so he wasn’t surprised to see the slight changes in her features. She didn’t usually bother, though, which puzzled him. Then he realised she usually knew who she was dealing with.

‘On your feet and come with us. We wanna talk.’

‘I’ve got nothing to say,’ said Five simply.

‘It doesn’t have to go this way,’ persisted the man.

(X) twitched her neck in annoyance. She hated people in her blind spot.

‘Think I wanna shoot a kid?’ came the response. ‘Go home with that on my conscience?’

(X) sighed and put her book down quietly. She picked up her teaspoon and stirred her coffee, looking under her arm as best she could. Further behind her, Five would go for the leader, she saw a pair of feet.

‘Well, I wouldn’t worry about that,’ said Five pleasantly. He turned to smile at the man. ‘You won’t be going home.’

He stretched his hand for the butter knife on the counter next to him as (X) stopped stirring her coffee. As Five disappeared she shot backwards to the feet she had been watching, kicked the man in the knee, swatted his gun away and drove a spoon into his eye. One man collapsed with a knife in his neck, the other to his knees howling.

Then they were gone.

As the others looked around Five appeared on one of the table booths, lying casually across it. ‘Hey assholes!’ He said comfortably.

(X) laughed. As the men turned and bullets went flying, she appeared behind the counter and took her latte from the saucer, leaning back and taking a long sip.

Next Five next appeared at the door, gave a knock or two and disappeared with a salute.

(X) leant on the cupboard behind her, sipping her coffee.

With a cross grimace, Five glared at her from his hiding place for being quite so care free.

As the lights flickered the men saw her. She saw them, and immediately shot to the other side of the room into a booth in the corner, one leg over the other and cup in both hands.

Five used this to his advantage, stabbing one with a splintered mop handle and going for another one with a pencil.

He put his tie around the neck of one and nearly rolled his eyes when he saw where his sister had moved to.

She looked up at the sound of a smashing plate. Five was hidden again, frowning at her.

She raised an eyebrow, asking if he needed help. He glared at her blankly, panting. She sighed and stood up.

‘Will you move?!’ Five hissed, seeing they’d heard her sigh and shifted next to her, tackling her to the ground behind a booth.

Noticing Five was a lot more concerned about her safety than he used to be, to a point where he’d risk himself with little concern or for little things, she’d think about that later, she focused up and looked around, ignoring the bullet in her arm.

She put an arm over him protectively as bullets rained above them and looked around.

Pulling Five’s weight with her she saw across the floor under the tables to another booth and surged them there in two moves to avoid knocking anything.

Then she stood up and as Five looked around she was gone.

She appeared behind the closest man, kicking him across the room and through the wood of a table.

Unlike Five, who could teleport or shift anywhere he pleased so long as it was in range, she found cover very difficult. Cover was meant to be hidden, so being able to see it was not normally possible.

Resorting to head-on, she surged straight for one of the last two men, kicking him twice in the gut and twirled behind him as she was spotted by the last. She ducked down as the last shot the second last in the chest and then rolled to the ground.

Five knew that because she could surge only to where she saw, she couldn’t at that moment see the last man.

He shifted behind him and shoved him forward as much as his early teenage arms would allow.

The man stumbled into her line of sight and in an instant she had surged forward onto his back, sending him collapsing to the ground and drove a piece of shattered plate through the nape of his neck.

She retrieved her coffee.

Five finished off another on the floor and retrieved his tie then picked up a beeping device, decorated with a splash of blood. ‘Ive got a tracker; can you cut my arm open- did you get shot?!’

She was fishing the bullet from her arm. ‘I wish it didn’t hurt like hell to revert my age when injured,’ she complained as a response, tossing the bullet across the diner. ‘Don’t worry; I’m healing it,’ she said patiently as Five opened his mouth to yell at her. ‘Find me a sharp knife.’

‘Yes.’ Five’s voice was impatient and irritated. He tossed her a knife from one of the men’s belts.

‘Alright.’ She joined him at the bench, held his outstretched arm down at the wrist with one hand and cut into his arm with the other.

Five winced and groaned a little before beginning to fish in his forearm for the tracker.

‘Wish I could heal you,’ she said, patting his back.

‘Don’t we all,’ he replied before triumphantly holding up the tracker, studying it with a peeved sigh.

(X) got her book from the counter, wiped debris off it with her hands and looked around. ‘Got everything?’

‘Yep.’ Five slid off the stool and walked out beside her.

As they walked to the car he grabbed her arm and squinted at it to make sure she was in fact healing. Satisfied, he kept hold of her arm, subconsciously wrapping his own around it as they reached the car.

Taglist; @woohoney @i-think-you-are-gr8 @maiabiovillage @catvader101 @theamazinghana @livinlifelikeishould @itsintothegreatbeyondstuff @reallysparklychaos @queenmissfit @shadowsndaisies

First Date (1/9)

Tim has one more test to pass before Bruce will allow him out as Robin. Like Dick and Jason before him, he has to avoid being caught by Batman for one night. He has already failed once, and is determined to succeed this time. Determination which might not count for much when Stephanie Brown is on the run from the mob. Her mother kidnapped as a way to threaten her father, Stephanie manages to escape and run into Tim. Unable to leave Stephanie alone when she is in need, Tim decides to try and multi-task. All he has to do is rescue Stephanie’s mother, take down the mob, avoid Batman, and get Stephanie to agree to a proper date all in one night. Absolute anarchy ensues.  Ao3 link here!

This is 100% inspired by the First Love (2019) Trailer.  I didn't know the plot when I started writing so it's purely the premise of girl being chased by the mob and the bloke getting drawn into the mess cause he's head over heels for the girl... seems as good a place to start as any. The film looks absolutely bonkers so I wanted to try and capture that energy in a story. God knows if I succeed. Everyone is a little bit older than they otherwise were in the comics. I have no excuse.

Tim tried not to stare too long at the Robin costume behind the glass panels.  Batman was stomping down the cave stairs behind it, heading in Tim’s direction.  He was currently slumped at a desk, fiddling with small explosives.

The final test began in three hours, and Tim was so nervous he felt like he was about to give birth to a brick.

Avoid Bruce from eight at night until eight in the morning.  That was all.  A demented game of hide and seek; stop any (small) crime that you came across that night but avoid being pointed out by or grabbed by the Bat. No costume, no equipment, just you and the clothes on your back and feet.

Dick had managed it, Jason had too.

Tim was on his second go.

The first time he had fumbled simply because he was not fast enough.  He had managed until three in the morning.  Squatting in an abandoned building in the narrows, he had stopped to eat a breakfast bar and take a piss.

It had not ended well.

So, six months later, endless missions as Batman and Oracle's mission control plus one and at least sixty lessons on improving reflexes, he was getting a second shot.

He had been told under no circumstances would there be a third.  If he failed this, Robin was dead (in every way that mattered).

Dick was optimistic to Tim’s face, happily offering advice and a change of teacher whenever Tim could manage visiting New York.   However as far as Tim knew he had not vouched for a second shot to Bruce himself.  Dick still would not step foot in Gotham if he could help it.  His relationship with Bruce, something Tim had given himself the task of starting the restoration of, was still very strained.  Jason’s costume in the glass case hung over everyone like the dead elephant in the room.  Always present, always in sight, always inescapable.

No, the push for a second go had come from Barbara.  Tim enjoyed spending time with her.  She was sardonic in her wit, but patient in her teaching.  Sometimes it was reassuring, sometimes it was patronising.  She had a level head and a gentleness about her that somehow reminded Tim of his mother (little he got to spend significant amounts of time with before she kicked the bucket).

Maybe he was projecting.

His brain wandered, thinking of what a Gotham psychiatrist would make of him.  Nothing good probably.  What sixteen-year-old signs up for what he signed up for?  What he pushed for?  If Bruce and Dick had had their way, none of this would be happening.  Tim’s stubbornness appeared pathological.  He titled his head, wondering if he was being cruel by pushing Robin back into the lives of people who had wanted to leave it behind.  He briefly realised that he was acting on the assumption that he knew how best to handle the emotional state of two grieving men than they themselves did.

Although, thinking of Dick and Bruce’s emotional processing capabilities, perhaps Tim did know better.

He frowned and pressed his lips together, hands still fiddling with the small explosives that he would not be allowed to take with him tonight.  So lost in his own head he only realised he was glaring disgustedly at Bruce until Batman coughed loudly.  Tim started, fingers fumbling over the bomb’s trigger.

“I wasn’t staring at you.”  Tim said pitifully.

“Clearly.”

Tim had no response and looked down at the tiny bombs.  They couldn’t do much damage, they stung more like a paintball pellet when they exploded.  Enough to make you wince and potentially fall over, weak enough to avoid any real damage apart from your suffering ear drums and bruises from the popped shell.

“Where’s my starting point this time?”

Batman looked at the time: 7pm.  One hour until kick-off.

“Wayne Tower” he said.  “Fifteen-minute head start, then I will set out from here.  Be back at Wayne Tower any time after eight, but before nine tomorrow morning. Don't think you can squat there all night.  You'll lose in less than half an hour.”

Easy.

Nodding, Tim stood up and pulled away from the table.  He still held on to one bomb with his right hand, thumb rubbing anxiously against the sphere.

“I won’t fail this time.” He swore.

Bruce said nothing, and there was no movement of his mouth to indicate any other sort of reaction.  Tim felt himself internally slump.  Bruce had no faith in him.  He’d always known that, and logically he understood the reasoning.  It didn’t mean that it still didn’t sting a little.

“Your father understands you won’t be home tonight?”

“Yeah, I’m covered.”

Ives was the cover.  He hadn’t intruded too much into why Tim was sneaking out all night, but felt naughty enough to agree to lie to Jack in case enquired further.  It wasn’t the most solid of plans, but Tim also knew that his father barely checked on him as is.  Too lost in his own head to notice what his son was up to.

“Good.” Batman held out a small device.  “Take this.  If you need help or want out, switch this on.  I’ll be able to find you then.”

Tim stared at it for a moment, then rather reluctantly took it.  “It’s not on already is it?  Not much of chance tonight if this is already tracking me.”

Batman was unamused.  “It switches on when you switch it on.”

Tim’s awkward smile fell and he nodded, pocketing it.

“See you tomorrow morning then.”  He joked, laughing with a confidence he wasn’t sure he felt.

Bruce just grunted and went to turn away.  Tim exhaled heavily, gnawing on his lip, when his thumb snapped a small knob on the bomb.  He looked down, realised he had just triggered it, and squeaked.

The thing popped in his hand with such a loud bang that it disturbed the bats above, screeching and rustling.  One of them proceeded to take a massive crap which plopped down between Tim and Batman.  Swearing loudly, he flapped his hand quickly back and forth, trying to cool down the burn.  Bruce had turned at the sound, then stared at the pile of bat waste on the metal floor.  His gaze moved up, and watched Tim make a fool of himself.  Not one ounce of emotion was shown on his face.  Tim smiled, eyes wet with the sting.

“This is fine.”  Tim said.

“Is it?”

“Yup.  Peachy.”  Tim whistled and winced and buried his hand between his thighs, trying to elevate the sting.  Bent in half, head near the floor, he choked out a polite goodbye, wishing for Bruce to just leave him in his humiliation.

When he finally gathered the courage to look up, he saw that Bruce was gone.  Smacking his head repeatedly, he slumped away to his red car, sidestepping the bat poo that Alfred would inevitably have to clean.

A great start to a great evening for sure.

Tim parked around four blocks down from Wayne Tower, a multi-storey which smelt of piss, alcohol, weed and assortment of other nose wrinkling things.  It was around the block from the hospital, so was not used for much outside of frantic potential patients and their visitors.

Slowly he made his way down the stairs, hopping past a passed-out chap hanging over the railings.  Coming out onto the overwhelmingly busy street, he began to make his way to Wayne Tower.

He had a rough game plan.  One that, in hindsight, was not detailed enough.  First time round he had made the mistake of planning out his every move, to which once Batman had figured out that plan, tracking Tim down was easy-peasy.  No, this time, he was going to (Night)wing it.

He was going to stay low initially, stay amongst the crowds of central Gotham for as long as it was busy and as long as Batman needed to stay out of sight from the average Joe.  He’d worn bland clothing to try and blend in.  Black sneakers, black jeans, some plaid shirt and a red light jacket.  A backpack had nothing but the absolute essentials in them.  He’d been refused any tools to help him, but food, drink and money was allowed.  He’d left his phone behind, and the tracker Batman had given him was zipped in an inside pocket.

The city’s churches rang out that it was eight o’clock, and it was go time.

He took in a deep shaky breath, rolled back his shoulders, and left the tower grounds.

***

Stephanie knew she had her pissy face on.  It matched her insides, which were churning in a such a rage she had developed heartburn.

If she threw up, she begged it would be after she got off the bus.  And in front of the hospital.

Her mom had insisted on her coming to pick her up from work.  Her mother’s shift ended at eight, and there Steph was on her way to collect her mother.

A lone seventeen-year-old girl travelling in the dark on public transport.

Bad enough for any city.

But in Gotham?

Stephanie wondered if her mother was trying to get rid of her.

She knew she had enough of an angry expression that no-one dared sit near her for fear she would start ragging on their very existence.  Or throwing up on their feet.  Depended how awful the heartburn got.

Headphones in playing no music and sneering at nothing, she silently stewed the whole journey into Gotham City Centre.

Upon arrival outside the hospital, she waited for her mother to emerge.

Crystal stumbled out into the early autumn air, wearing probably a thicker coat than was necessary.  On her feet were her white slip-ons, but she had changed into what appeared to be her pyjamas.

Stephanie inspected Crystal as she shuffled over.  “What’s with the jammies?”

Her mother ignored her.  “Need to head to the pharmacy.”

Curling her lip, Stephanie shook her head.  “Can’t it wait until tomorrow?  It’s eight at night?  I’ll go to the one round the corner first thing in the morning for you before you wake up.”

Her mom didn’t seem to hear her.  “I’m all out.  I won’t sleep unless I got something to knock me down for the night.”

Seeing how uncooperative she was being, Stephanie snapped as her. “Weren’t able to grab some spares from the cupboards?  You know the in-house ones won’t give anymore so you—”

“That’s enough Stephanie!” Her mother whirled and grabbed her hand, pulling her down the street.  “I am in pain after a nightmare shift.  I don’t need you to have a go on top of everything.”

Guilt flooded Stephanie, and she shut up.  She reminded herself that she couldn’t be responsible for her mother’s sobriety and tried to let it go.  She twisted in her mother’s grip until she could hold Crystal’s hand. Her mother twined their fingers together, holding tight.  All was forgiven.  Conflict avoided.

“…We got through another scene of Hamlet today.”

“Oh?  Enjoying being Ophelia?”  Crystal asked, staggering slightly, the pain in her back slowing the pair down considerably.

“It’s fun… kinda.  Though, she doesn’t even have that much to say or do in the end.”

“No… most of Shakespeare’s tragedies don’t give much to the women.”

“Lady Macbeth and Juliet aside.”

“Hmm.  The comedies are better anyway.”

And so, they talked, slowly making their way through the centre of the city, hunting for the one pharmacy that a) was open after eight and b) was within walking distance of their bus stop route.

Gotham was noisy and bright tonight, many staggering people yelled and fell over into the road, but most of them were laughing or from having a good time.  The neon signs for assorted bars, restaurants, clubs and shops were garish more than welcoming, but Stephanie liked it all the same.  The city was alive, though down each dark alley uncomfortable smells and sights ensured both women kept deliberately facing forward.  A humdrum of the city came out at night, especially after twelve.  That was when the Bat would appear, and all hell would break loose.  Stephanie and her mother lived far enough out in the crappy suburbs to avoid the hellish events from places like the Narrows from spilling over, but that didn’t mean they had escaped what the city could be unscathed.

For example, Stephanie’s father - Crystal’s husband - hadn’t come home in nearly two weeks now.

Stephanie cared, if only because she didn’t know why and/or where he was.  Maybe he was dead, lost in a shoot out and stuffed down the sewers.  Maybe he was cooking up another awful plan to get more money, hurting who knows how many people in the process.

Stephanie didn’t love or care for her father, but she did care about the consequences of his actions on others, on Gotham.

On her mother.

They arrived at a pharmacy which looked rather empty inside, save for three blokes staring at the condoms and lube in one corner.  Crystal took one look at them and asked for Stephanie to wait outside.  Reluctant, but not wanting to fight with her mother more that evening, Stephanie nodded, and lingered under a lamp.  She plugged her headphones back in and stared in the shop window, eyes following her mother.

She watched as Crystal pulled a prescription from her purse at the counter.  A very tired and out of it looking pharmacist glanced at it, then glanced at Crystal, then glanced back at the paper, and finally back to Crystal.  They heaved such a sigh it was like they carried the weight of the world, and then moved out back to fill a bottle.  Her mother’s haggard appearance, making her look older than her age of 42, was in part due to endless cigarettes, as well as the alcohol and drug abuse.  The pharmacist no doubt recognised it, but just wanted to do their job and get Crystal out of the store.

Stephanie ignore the sound of some pervert wolf whistling her from some bar across the road and glared as one of the three condom buying men turned and did a double take at the sight of Crystal.  He repeatedly smacked his friend on the arm, not so subtly grabbing his attention.  The third guy listened to the pair as they talked, watching with no subtlety the woman waiting for her painkillers.

Feeling a drop of fear, Stephanie went to walk in the shop, praying that faced with two woman, one that could kick and punch and bite particularly hard, the men wouldn’t try anything.  The third man noticed her before she entered, and pointed with an exaggerated stupidity, like he was an old friend of hers and it was some inside joke, some usual greeting between the two.

She jerked to a stop, instead blurting out a call for her mother.

Crystal turned, frowning, when Stephanie saw them men pull out guns.

She shrieked, and the second man turned his gun on her, and shot above her head, firing through the open door.

Stephanie fell to the ground, then scrambled up.  The man had deliberately missed her, so frightening her must have been the aim.  Beyond that, she was lost at their motives.  She didn’t recognise those men, and neither did her mother it seemed, who was kicking up a storm, screeching and twisting and kicking as the other two men grabbed her.  The moment one of them put his pistol on her temple, she froze, and looked for Stephanie out the corner of her eye.  The pharmacist had seemingly hidden away in the back once the sound of shots had been made.

Stephanie tried to rush into the store to help, partially sure that the men wouldn’t do any serious damage to her, when another fired bullet grazed her thigh, shattering the store window.  She collapsed from the pain, and looked down as her leg began to run red.

The man wasn’t trying to miss, he was just a shit shot.

With a bleeding leg, a mother in danger of being shot in the head, and three men with guns ready to hurt or kill her, Stephanie freaked.

She began screaming hysterically, and a crowd had begun to gather at the spectacle.  No police presence appeared, and no-one intervened.  Drunken jeers came from the side, but no-one helped Stephanie to her feet or to check on her injury.  Three incompetent men with guns were somehow a greater threat then three competent ones to the general public.  Stephanie and Crystal were strangers to these people, and not something risking their life over.

Her mother was dragged out the shop and into a nearby car mounted on the curb, not resisting and limp with fear.  Once she was inside, two of the men turned for Stephanie, but she had managed to pull herself to her feet.  Still screaming, although with rage this time instead of fear, she body slammed one to the ground, doing a roly-poly on top of him.  Her leg burned in agony, but she managed to pull herself up to standing.  She began to sprint as best she could away, heading back towards the hospital.  She had to treat her leg first.

With what money? Eh.

And then what?

She didn’t really have the presence of mind to think chronologically or logically about her situation.  Her left leg gave way every time her foot slammed into the concrete ground, and she flinched and screamed every time a shot rang out until she was so far down the street she was out of range.

That didn’t stop them however, as the car drove away, one of the men gave chase to Stephanie, seemingly sure he could run down an injured teenage girl.

She managed to turn the corner onto a large avenue, the hospital just one more block down.  Wayne Tower, in all its fancy glory, stood watch at the far end.  Her leg gave out then, and she crashed into a streetlamp.  She called for help again as she saw the man gaining on her.  She went to push off the pole, but she collapsed in a heap on floor.  She rolled onto her back, groaning.  Most people gave her a wide berth as she stared at the man only a few feet away now.  One or two hadn't moved out of the way, probably from confusion more than anything.  The man pushed several of them out of the way.

Abruptly, and with as much strength as a brick wall, a boy in front of her held his arm out, and punched the man straight in the face.

The man actually whirled up and down, legs up in the air at odd angles, arms contorted strangely as he had stopped at such a speed and with such force.  His head thumped against the ground, and with that the man pursuing Stephanie was passed out cold on the street.  She felt herself squeak at the man now lying on the floor next to her.

The boy quickly removed the gun from his hand, emptying it of bullets and scattering them on the street.  People were staring again, but didn’t say or do anything aside from a passing comment here and there of, “Hey is that guy passed out?”

Stephanie tried not to flinch as the boy knelt in front of her, but she couldn’t help it as he looked at her bleeding leg. He went to touch it, to which Stephanie cried out, and slapped him hard across the face.

The boy lost his balance from the force of the slap but managed to hold his hands up in deference whilst looking at the floor submissively.  He was trying to make himself as small and nonthreatening as possible.  A difficult task to achieve when faced with a bleeding, sweaty, crying girl lying on the floor.

“I’m sorry.  I’m sorry.  I just wanted to check on it.  Should I get you to the hospital? It’s not far from –”

“I know where it is!   Where do you think I was running?”

Her sharp interruption didn’t seem to offend him, instead it seemed to amuse him.

“Yeah.  Sorry.  Sorry.”

He finally looked at her then, and Stephanie felt her heart stutter for a reason other than fear.  He also seemed gobsmacked for some reason, and his gaze made her squirm.

Darnnit.

“My name’s Tim.”  He finally offered, smiling like a dork who hadn't just one punched a gang member.

Shit.  He was cute.

Her stomach rolled abruptly, and Tim watched as she turned faintly green, growing concern on his soft face.  Her heartburn apparently had had enough of this evening, but she managed to turn her head to the side in time for her to vomit all over the street.  Some woman cried out, stumbling away and fell into the gutter, heels flying off comically.  Someone muttered, "Jesus Christ".  Stephanie and Tim couldn't care less.  He reached out and stroked her hair, far too familiar for someone he had just met and watched puke.  Stephanie found she actually quite liked it.  

A moment's pause, and Stephanie turned back over onto her back.  Someone shouted about how disgusting she was, and the blood oozing from her leg was starting to flow upwards on the uneven ground, mixing in with the brown stinky vomit.  There were carrot chunks from the soup she'd microwaved earlier slipping down a storm drain.  Her mother had just been kidnapped.  Stephanie had been shot in the leg.  She had bits of puke stuck in her hair and teeth and now her breath smelt really bad.

Her mother had just been kidnapped.  Stephanie had been shot.  In the leg.

Tim was grinning at her as if she were a million dollars.  She smiled dreamily.

“…Hi Tim.”

Why All This Talk of the Valley of Silence?

Two words: Sacred Pilgrimage.

Here I am now, at 18 and I’ve learned to feel the seasons. Take my hand and come away with me to a place we’ll understand. ...much to see in such a short time... —from the song Bound to Happen by The Empire Hideous

This woodland was my spiritual haven for four years of my life. It’s an enigmatic place, like Parth Galen or Amon Hen from The Fellowship of the Ring, replete with mysterious ruins, structures, and statues. All these years I’ve assumed it’s about 100 acres, but I don’t ever remember asking anyone or measuring it until now. According to Google Earth, the area outlined in blue in the satellite image is exactly 200 acres, and the perimeter is four miles. 

I don’t think the college owns the whole parcel of land, because an old plat map I found that dates to sometime before the 1940s indicates some of the land is owned by the City of Duluth, some by the State of Minnesota, and some by the College of Saint Scholastica. The housing development on the left hand side of the satellite image above was built around 2005. Before then the woods were about 240 acres.

In 2003 or 2004 after lamenting the lack of a trail map I ventured out with a compass and notebook and counted my paces while tracking my heading. I drew a crude map that was woefully not to scale; I could have made a surveyor cry. Then for fun I wrote everything on the map in ancient Gothic, a long dead Germanic language.

After another year or so I bought a handheld GPS tracker and made a better map with it. The tracker had its drawbacks, most notably that the line it drew had no map of its own or any points of reference. It sometimes had a tendency to wildly redraw lines into different polygonal shapes long after they had been mapped just fine, hampering the accuracy significantly. The Mark II map was closer to scale, more detailed and complete, and I opted for plain English. By the time I was done, the then-new housing development had cut down dozens of acres of trees and obliterated a length of the trail that looped around the westernmost parts of the Valley of Silence.

My Mark III map was all digital, and was a hybridization based on aerial photography I found, and from my hand-drawn maps where the trails couldn’t be seen through the tree canopy. It was an improvement but still plenty inaccurate, especially the encroaching Private Land; the dimensions were wrong and it severed much more of the trail. Lots of my measurements were also still off because I didn’t account for changes in elevation, forcing me to figure out how to make some of the trails fit together by stretching, shortening, or changing angles.

From the latest satellite imagery, it seems a lot has changed since my college days, and I was motivated to redraw all the trails over the course of an hour or so. It even looks like a new trail emerged along the edge of the housing development, but I’m in the mood to use a mapping app on my phone and hike the miles of trails again. I do need to indicate more of the hazards on the Mark IV map I want to make, such as some of the spots where the trail is actually mud that is at least knee deep, or trails that are murky boggy water except in winter.

Plus I’ll take any excuse to play in my old back yard again.

12 Hours (Part Five)

Welcome.            Part One.         Part Two.       Part Three.     Part Four.

This story contains blood, murder and quite a bit of violent angst.

This particular part contains extreme injuries, please be cautious if you are sensitive to these subjects.

.

“Has anyone seen Levi?” Sage, Levi’s husband, asked to anyone who wasn’t preoccupied. The mission was officially successful but they had faced their fair share of wounded and dead; with fifteen injured and three deaths. Sage had first assumed Levi was in the surgery rooms but when he glanced at the digital list stating which doctors were inside, his name did not show on any of them. He had then assumed that he was in the garage where the rest of the uninjured teams were unpacking, so he hurried down.

He had gotten the same answers. The remaining front line teams hadn’t seen him, the flanks weren’t aware that he even went along, the medical team didn’t remember him being in the ambulances. Sage was becoming increasingly worried as he weaved between the cars, ambulances and passing workers, trying to spot his partner but to no avail. Eventually he turned the corner and saw the bodies of the three dead, covered by bloody white tarps and he saw the flick of a lab coat beneath it. His stomach flipped and he raced towards it, skidding to his knees.

Please, please, please. Don’t let it be him. Don’t let it be him.

Sage tore away the tarp from their heads and his heart nearly stopped.

It wasn’t Levi but another doctor, an older man with a bullet in his forehead. Sage pulled back and covered his mouth, his body flooding with a mix of morbid relief and horror. There was no hesitation against this doctor, it was no doubt at the hand of Zyren’s gun. Sage was certain that even the guards Nate mentioned earlier knew better than to purposely shoot someone in first aid. 

He didn’t dare look at the other two and hurriedly pulled the tarp over them once more, clutching his head as he breathed out. He cursed beneath his breath, trying to blink the image out of his brain and focus.

He got up, his arm feeling numb and heavy whilst his prosthetic gripped his hair.

If Levi isn’t here, where is he?

“Sage?” A voice called him and he turned around, seeing Lydia behind him. She was a doctor who focused and studied the mythical and supernatural - someone who knew how to treat a werewolf’s violence or a vampire’s blood-lust whilst still being incredibly skilled in medicinal treatment. “What are you doing over here?”

“I-I’m looking for Levi,” He replied shakily, not sure what to do with himself, “You haven’t seen him have you?”

“He hasn’t reported back at all, I thought he was recovering with you,” She slowly guided him away from the tarps.

“No, I was- I was looking for him, I thought for a second that he was...” He looked back at at the bodies but Lydia quickly averted his attention, “What do you mean he hasn’t reported back?”

“There’s no record of him stating his return on the lists,” She looked around bit her nail as she pondered.

“So he’s not here?” Sage’s heart was prepared to stop again, “Everyone else said they hadn’t seen him, he’s not picking up his phone and his GPS isn’t responding.”

Lydia looked concerned. “Sage, do not panic, we will find him.”

“What if they left him behind?” He exclaimed, “What if he was wounded and no one realised!”

“Sage-”

“I need to look for him, tell me where you just were!”

“I will, but only if you let me come with you,” She stated, “I’m not going to risk you getting wounded on your own.”

He nodded and took her arm, rushing over to a vacant 4x4, snatching a rifle and climbing inside. Lydia climbed inside and filled her pistol with a fresh magazine, turning on her tablet to try and track Levi. Nate had spotted them at the last moment and ran after them to try and stop them but they were gone before he could reach them.

.

It had been hours now.

Clyde had only just been released from his continuous surgery and x-rays and was finally laid in the recovery ward with an official list of his injuries. Lucas had been forced into the shower to wash off the blood and bandage himself up, yet he had only cleaned himself off, dressed and rushed back to his side.

By now he knew that his husband was a husk, yet was far too overwhelmed to be any more distraught than he already was. Night had fallen and the long room was illuminated by white light, highlighting his injuries. Without the blood covering his body he could see the true extent of what he endured. 

His body was covered head to toe in bandages, cotton, wires and tubes, his lip and left cheek were swollen and he had two black eyes which made his eyes appear sunken. His hands, that were wrapped up like a mummy’s, were covered in IV needles and were trembling against the covers. His hair was the faintest shade of blue now that they were gradually re-hydrating him and his once soft skin was clammy, cold, chapped and bruised - as fragile as paper. There was an oxygen mask over his face that was connected to a ventilator and his bed was so surrounded by machines that they had to remove the bedside table to make room. He was bundled up in a heated blanket and warm clothing to treat the hypothermia he had come down with but Lucas could still tell he was very sick.

Lucas sat down at his side and took his hand, looking into his open grey eyes. He was looking at the light again but he didn’t react to anything at all, his trembling hand limp in his husband’s own. He didn’t know what to say, every time he closed his eyes he could hear him screaming and begging, the guard pinning him down and chuckling at his agony. No matter how hard he tried to believe that what he did to that guard was enough, his rage cursed at him for killing him so mercilessly yet he doubted that anything he inflicted on him could satisfy his anger.

Lucas’ ear perked as he heard someone enter and turned towards him, seeing Frazier - one of the senior doctors - holding a clipboard.

“What’s that?” Lucas asked worriedly, his grip on Clyde’s hand gently tightening.

“It is his finalised list of injuries,” Frazier replied, “I don’t think you should look at it.”

Lucas ignored that and silently held his hand out for it, his eyes pleading, and the doctor sighed and handed it to him. It was nearly a page long.

Removed left leg. Shattered patella in the right leg. Three broken ribs. Concussion. Loss of left premolar. Right lung bruised. Loss of all fingernails. Small impalement wound through the left hand. Ten lashes across torso and lower back, which has caused spinal bruising and minor spine compression. Bruised throat. Severely dehydrated. Infection found in the lower back lashes and left knee. Severe hypothermia.

Loss of Soul. Return as soon as possible.

By the end of the page, Lucas’ tears dripped onto the paper. There were more but he felt too sick to read them as they were related to the sixth hour and that guard. He trembled as he lifted the paper and read through the three pages worth of treatment he was going to have to endure. Surgery for his patella and ribs, surgery for his lungs, his spine, then further stitches for his lashes when his soul was returned, scans, medication, psychical restoration, therapy...

Lucas put his head in his hands and let out a broken sob. “I should never have let him out of my sight,” He wept as Frazier put his hand on his back, “I was a careless fool and now he’s hurt and sick, so so sick... he’s in so much pain because of me!”

“Lucas, he isn’t in pain - we have him on strict morphine doses but I doubt that would have made a difference - he wouldn’t have survived if he wasn’t a Husk.” Frazier tried to reassure him but what he said only seemed to make matters worse.

“Don’t say that like it’s a good thing!” Lucas snapped, “His soul never should have been taken, he should have never had been the one to pay for my profession! I should have been the one who was hurt! It should have been me!”

Frazier was quiet for a moment before he sighed and rethought of what he was going to say. “Do not say that, he wouldn’t have wanted any of this to happen to you and you know it - please, be thankful that he is back with us, alive.”

“But it is just his body!” Lucas looked up and stared at Clyde, who hadn’t moved, “Those fuckers still have him and they could kill him in an instant! They could just crush his soul into... into dust and I wouldn’t be able to stop it!”

“He is going to get through this,” Frazier promised, “We’re going to bring him back to the state he was before all of this, we will find his soul before they can hurt him any more, we’ll heal him, get him a prosthetic and all of the help he needs. We cannot change what has happened but the most we can do is be here now.”

Lucas didn’t know how to reply, he was distraught, guilty and broken. All he wanted was to see his husband safe in his arms. He wanted to take him away from all of this pain and trauma, to make sure that he never endured a single second under the hands of those murderers. But he was useless. He could do nothing to help him, all he could do is sit and cry at his bedside.

He opened his eyes once more and looked at his face, his poor face, and shuffled closer with tears streaming down his cheeks.

“I don’t care how much it costs,” He stated, reaching out and clinging to Clyde’s hand once more as he doubled up, “I’ll make you better, I promise darling... even if it takes everything I have, I’ll make sure that you’re happy again...”

Meanwhile, Daniel was sat in a separate ward of the facility next to his own partner, who was lying in the bed with a large, bandaged would over his chest. He was shirtless and his arms were lain upon the covers, pierced with IVs and vital trackers as he breathed deeply into a ventilator. He was unconscious as of now and was pale as death, a second blood transfusion being slowly inserted into his system via a tube since he had only just come out of his surgery.

He was exhausted from crying and was doubled up, his head rested on Ty’s stomach to hear his breathing and pulse. He had one hand interlocked with Ty’s whilst the other soothingly stroked his skin, watching as the heart monitor signalled his finally steady heartbeat. Despite him knowing that Ty was alive and was going to recover, he was still terrified that something was going to turn for the worst.

He was scared for him and his best friend, scared that he wouldn’t get to say goodbye should they die. He wanted to visit Clyde to see what had happened to him yet Lucas was adamant against letting anyone see him besides the doctors or his parents. He was all alone, he had no one to talk to other than Ty and hope he could listen but he didn’t want to bombard him with even more stress. He had never felt so alone and scared before, frightened that Ty would suddenly perish without warning, that he would never be able to tell him how much he loved him. Dan didn’t know what to do without him, so he just sat there silently and prayed he would recover soon.

.

Zyren had been cleaning the house religiously, always pulling things out to reorganise them in alphabetical order, then an hour later in colour order, then back to alphabetical. The bookshelf had been de-cluttered, then stuffed back to its usual, crowded state as the spaces between the books made Zy agitated, then it was soon de-cluttered once again. The kitchen had been vigorously sanitised, the dishes cleaned on two seperate occasions and all of the food in the fridge had been organised alphabetically and by their various categories.

He was stressed beyond comprehension, trying to cope with Flin’s injury and running up the stairs whenever he called out to him in pain. He was lying in bed, clawing the covers and crying at his leg, which had bled through the bandages for the third time. It was rested on a bloody towel and was swelling quite severely, which greatly disgusted Zy but he tried not to let it show.

“Zy...” Flin wept, pressing his head back into the pillows, “Zy, it hurts...I need pain killers, please...”

“If you have any more you will overdose,” Zy sat on the bed and hugged him. Flin desperately held onto him and cried, his body shaking as his leg twitched. He was still wearing the flannel and it did seem to be helping him stay calm, but the pain was too much for him to stay calm.

His skin was clammy and his breaths were laboured, he couldn’t sit up because of the dizziness and the blood - whilst it did reduce - hadn’t stopped weeping through.

He wasn’t going to make it through the night if this carried on.

“Make it stop, please...” He begged, “I promise I’ll listen to you properly, just please make it stop!”

“I... I cannot,” Zyren admitted, that pain in his chest returning with a pang. “You need to be braver.”

Flin arched his back and let out a loud whimper of agony. “I can’t, I can’t!” He cried, “Please make it end!”

As he kept crying, the front door was opened and Kaito returned with his gun pushed into Levi’s back as they walked in.

Levi had been thrown into the back of a van, had his GPS removed and destroyed and was driven off to god knows where. He tried to keep track of each turn but he had eventually lost count and just sat there silently until the van stopped and he was heaved out. He was guided down a slab pathway and pushed inside a house, the smell of sanitiser hitting his nose immediately, which made him wrinkle his nose.

He was pushed into the centre of another room and, after Kaito drew all of the curtains, the cotton sack was finally pulled from his head, revealing the living room of a house that was so spotless that it reminded him of a dollhouse. “Why the hell did you bring me here?” He asked.

“Just get upstairs,” Kaito ordered, shoving him towards the stairs, “Keep your mouth shut or I’ll crush the twat’s soul right here.”

Levi scowled and ascended the staircase, the smell of blood replacing the scent of cleaning supplies. He began to hear groaning and crying, no doubt from pain, and the moment he reached the landing he stopped.

Flinar was lying on the bed, squirming and wailing and kicking his leg, which had had been quite brutally amputated. Levi saw from first glance that it was not a clean sever and could tell that his bone was protruding openly. They wanted him to treat him.

There was no way in hell Levi was ever going to heal this psychopath’s leg. He would gladly watch him bleed out right now, but his hatred did not stop the gun being pushed into his back to coax him into the bedroom.

“I’ve brought a facility doctor,” Kaito said and Zyren looked up them. Levi refused to show fear.

“Is he bugged?” Zyren asked, 

“No, I made sure of it,” Kaito replied but he didn’t seem convinced, standing up and clearly trying to stop himself from holding Flin when he reached out for him. He walked over and physically inspected Levi, pulling at his arms and legs to make sure that he didn’t have anything that could track them. When he was satisfied, he stepped back with a cold expression.

“Get to work,” He ordered.

“Excuse me?” Levi retorted.

“I said get to work,” Zy’s tone was gruffer now, but Levi still didn’t give in.

“No,” He crossed his arms, “I am not going to give him treatment after what he’s done.”

“I am not giving you a choice,” Zyren hissed, “Now help him recover or it is your life.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, did I miss the sudden moment where you two became saints? Do you honestly expect me to bow to your will when you both have slaughtered hundreds and affected thousands more, just because you deem it enjoyable?” Levi said, “I have watched innocent people die on my table to his hand and you believe that I am just going to help him?”

Zyren lifted his gun at him and loaded it, gritting his teeth. Yet he didn’t shoot. He was hesitating. He was desperate.

“You have ruined countless lives and killed my co-workers without mercy, Clyde is never going to be the same again just because you two selfish pricks wanted to escape to a new country!” He continued, his fists clenched as he walked up to the bed. If he was going to die here then he wasn’t going to go down without speaking his mind. “You, Flinar, deserve every ounce of pain that you are enduring right now! You can go ahead and cry because this is your karma for being a cruel, demonic little shit!”

“Enough!” Zyren roared, yet his finger still didn’t pull the trigger. He knew that Flinar wouldn’t survive if they waited any longer. Flin gazed up at Levi in pain, yet the doctor held no sympathy for him.

“Zy...” Flin begged, curling up on his side, “Please... please...”

“You are childish,” Levi stood up straight and frowned, “But my co-worker’s life is on the line, so I will stop his karma if you agree to my conditions.”

“I will not accept the conditions of a low-life old man who needs to learn to hold his tongue,” Zyren spat. “This is your final warning.”

“Go ahead and put a bullet in my head then,” Levi threatened him. “I suppose you and I both know that he’ll be dead in a few hours and from how long that car journey took, you are not going to find another doctor. But that is fine by me, he can meet me in Hell.”

Zyren growled and bared his teeth, yet he looked at Flinar with desperation and his hand shook. He let out a scowl.

“Name them.”

“I’ll give him treatment if you give me Clyde’s soul in return,” He turned to Kaito, who had the jar in his hand and promptly gave it to Zyren. “Completely unharmed. If I see a crack on its surface I will make you pay. You never hurt another person ever again and you put your fucking guns down and let me leave when this is done.”

Zyren didn’t look pleased but he was so desperate that he unloaded his gun and threw it aside. Levi was convinced that they were still going to hurt people the moment that he healed Flin but he would at least going to give it a try. At this point, he had accepted that they were probably going to have him killed sooner or later but he was too enraged to care.

“Fine,” Zy finally gave in, “You’ll get the fucking soul when you’ve done your job.”

“One more thing,” Levi said as Kaito cut the zip tie around his wrists, “You are going to let me do my job, if you stop me then he is going to die before dawn, do you understand me?”

Zyren walked up to him and loomed over him, his glare icy cold. “Sabotage him and I will put your head on a platter.”

“I am under an oath not to sabotage my patients’ recovery,” Levi leaned just as close, glaring back without fear, “I am not as cruel as you.”

Zy scowled and barged his shoulder against him, tossing a first aid kit on the bed, “Just help him.”

Levi made no further comment and took a fresh packet of sterilised gloves and a mask from his pocket, pulling them on and beginning to unravel the bandage.

“Stop squirming,” He told Flin, who was struggling in pain. Zy sat down and pulled him against his chest, holding his torso so he calmed down. He removed the bandage and took a pair of scissors from the first aid kit, cutting up his jeans to stop them from pressing into the swelling limb. He looked at it and inspected it closely. He pressed a swollen spot of skin that was a disgusting yellow colour and wrinkled his nose as pus dribbled out. “Just as I suspected, it is severely infected up to his knee.”

“What does that mean?” Zyren asked harshly as Flin tried to struggle further.

“It means he’s going to need further amputation or he’s going to get sick and die, that’s if the blood loss doesn’t get him first.”

“You are not going to take his leg.” He snarled, which only made Flin more panicked.

“I don’t have to, but it’ll be his life,” Levi shrugged, then rolled his eyes and took a serious tone, “Listen, I am not trying to cause him more pain but if you let it fester any longer then gangrene will consume his whole leg and eventually kill him - do you want that to happen?”

Zy frowned, then relented. “How long will it take?”

“An hour, including stitching and proper cleaning,” Levi said. “Do you have anaesthesia?”

“Yes.”

“No! No no no!” Flin cried, “Zy, stop him, stop him!!”

He tried to struggle as Zy picked him up, carefully elevating his leg as he walked downstairs. Kaito pushed Levi to follow once he had collected the first aid kit and had to listen to Flinar screaming the entire way down to the basement. He wouldn’t deny that he enjoyed hearing him get what he deserved, but he did want to stop his suffering. Even if Flin was a horrible person, no one deserved to endure pain like this.

The amputation passed smoothly. Zyren had set him down on a metallic table - which was no doubt used for torture in the past  - in the basement and injected him with a clean syringe of anaesthesia. He had stroked his hair apologetically the entire time he slipped under and watched Levi intently as he worked. He had to use a bone saw and any useful supplies he could find whilst the elf held an oxygen mask to his lover’s face.

Levi amputated to his knee and ensured that he had a safe and evenly cut stub which contained healthy tissues and no infection. He spent the next forty five minutes properly cleaning, sterilising and closing up the would and ensured it would not swell further. Kaito disposed of the infected leg when Levi had tied the last stitches, finally binding it in bandage soaked in antiseptic.

He let the elf tend to the demon once he was done and cleaned up before being sent upstairs by Kaito at gunpoint where he was locked in the van to sleep with simply a blanket to keep himself warm, a glass of water and a single carelessly made sandwich. Yet they still zip-tied his wrists together, but luckily they were at his front this time.

Levi was under their roof for three days, worked to the bone caring for a psychopath who had the pain tolerance of a sheltered child. He was given cold meals, three glasses of water a day and had to use the bathroom under supervision. He was not permitted near any windows nor was he allowed outside. His back was killing him as being on his feet all day and sleeping on metal flooring was the furthest thing from comfortable, and his chest pain had kicked in now that he didn’t have his medication. Yet he didn’t let anything break his confidence or attitude, making sure the three knew that their actions were wrong.

In return he was tossed one single cigarette by Zyren and Levi made sure to blow the smoke in his face. Their patience for one another was running thin and it was clear Zy wanted Levi gone one way or another.

Flinar was improving, now able to sleep peacefully and sit up with assistance, though he still begged for pain killers whenever he could. When Levi watched over him, he found his behaviour to be fascinating. He would talk to himself and move around in the bed when he hadn’t taken the medication for his schizophrenia yet. He would growl one minute then whimper the next, apologising over and over to “the crying doctor” that he stated would “cry and cry to him and wouldn’t stop”.

He didn’t make conversation with him nor try to prevent him from helping, but he did act particularly dramatic whenever Zyren was in the room and Levi soon learned that he was trying to get him killed, since it was known that Zyren would be merciless if anyone hurt his partner. None the less, the elf left him alone and even shushed his lover a few times, which Levi found amusing.

By the third evening, he was absolutely exhausted. He was leaning over the kitchen sink with his glass of water and was trying to repress the swelling pain he felt in his chest and back. He was so tired and he desperately needed a change of clothes and a good night’s sleep. He thought deeply of his actions and wondered if he had made the right ones.

He had promised himself that he would never put his life on the line for Clyde, insisting that he would save himself if he ever had to make a choice between them. Yet here he was, forcing on an attitude and healing the psychopath who tortured that same, sobbing doctor to try and save him. He no doubt regretted what he stated before but he didn’t think he could ever come to admit that. He held sympathy for him and was prepared to give him an easier time if they ever survived this, he just hoped he could have even a single day to redeem himself.

Levi sighed, praying that they would keep up their end of the deal but at this point, he was starting to lose hope. They were probably waiting until he broke under exhaustion to use him just like they used Clyde, but Levi knew that Lucas would never send out such a rescue party for him, not after what he’d done to his husband.

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn’t hear Kaito behind him, who had poured chloroform onto a rag.

“Zyren sends his thanks.” He said, making Levi jump as the rag was pressed harshly into his face.

.

I’m on such a writing surge that this chapter is no doubt rushed and messy as well. But not many people read this stuff so I don’t really care. It was fun to write though! The next part will be the last, so stay tuned!

See you soon. <3

F*ck Cancer- Ch 1: The Discovery

SERIES MASTERLIST - CHAPTER TWO

Summary: You’ve been hiding a crushing secret from your best friends (Well, one best friend and one sometimes-lover if you want to get technical about it). How will they react when they find out that the woman they grew up and hunted with for most of their lives, may only have a few months left to live?

Genre: Angst

Characters: Sam x Reader, Dean x Platonic!Reader* *For my Dean ladies: it may not be romantic between him and the reader, but it’s a very close brotherly/sisterly relationship and I still think y’all will really enjoy it :)

Words: 3277

Warnings: Cancer/chemo talk, swearing

A/N: I’ve only written one series prior to this. It was also a Sam x Reader, was 8 parts long just like this, and just like this it marked a huge milestone on my blog. The first chapter of “The One Moment” marked the 100th post I’d made... this marks the 300th :)

Your phone rang as you stared lazily out of the window. You knew you were lucky, not many of the other patients had this view; it certainly made the whole process seem a little less intimidating. Your heart nearly skipped a beat when you saw it was Sam who was calling, for good or bad you weren't sure. You and he had been together in the past, it was never anything serious because the life of a hunter would never allow that, but to say you didn’t have some semblance of feelings for him would be a big fat lie. You took a deep breath and accepted the call, holding your hand over the microphone in an attempt to shield the hospital sounds surrounding you.

“Hey Sam, been a while,” you told him, trying to sound casual. Thankfully you had only just started treatment 10 minutes prior so the vomiting hadn’t started yet, and your voice would definitely have betrayed you in that instance.

“Hey yourself Y/N, been good?” he replied; you could hear the smile in his voice which in turn had you grinning. You really had missed him.

“Can’t complain,” you lied. “How are you and bonehead going?”

“Hey, I resent that,” Dean’s voice protested in the background and you and Sam shared a laugh.

“He’s good, we both are.”

“So, what are you boys up to at the moment? Gimme all the goss,” you begged, reclining in your chair.

“Actually we’ve just finished a case and will be driving through Austin pretty soon to the next one, thought maybe we could stop by and say hi.”

You nearly dropped the phone as you bolted upright. Holding onto it tightly you quickly debated on the best way to handle this. No way were he and Dean going to find out about this, especially not in the middle of treatment.

“Y/N? You there?” he asked, concern filling his voice.

“Shit yer, sorry, I sat back and nearly dropped my phone. Um, now’s not really a good time,” you told him, scrambling to come up with a good excuse.

“Is everything ok? Are you in trouble?” he asked, jumping straight into protective mode. You forced out a laugh.

“It’s all good, I’m just not at home. Hitting a salt and burn a few states over unfortunately.”

“I thought you were having a break from hunting?” Dean asked you skeptically. Curse his big brother senses.

“Yer but this came up and, I dunno, I felt like scratching that itch or something,” you scrambled, picking at a loose thread on your jumper sleeve nervously. “Anyway I think I’ll be here another couple of days so we might have to try for next time. Sorry.”

“No no, it’s fine. Sorry to miss you, was looking forward to it,” Sam replied, sounding pretty beat up. God damn it Winchester!

A nurse started to approach and you realised you had to get off the call before they overheard her talking about your IV line.

“Anyway guys I better get going, it was really great talking to you. I’ll call you tomorrow perhaps?” you rushed.

“Oh, uh, yer sure. That’d be great. Talk soo-”

You had to cut him off, the nurse got too close and was about to open her mouth and blow your cover. You berated yourself for it, he probably thought you didn’t want to see them anymore, and you face palmed yourself and groaned in annoyance.

“Oh hun, is the nausea starting already?” the nurse asked you kindly.

“Yer, only it’s not the chemo this time.”

-----------------------------------------

“Did she just hang up on you?” Dean asked incredulously. Sam was looking at his phone, the call disconnected before he’d even managed to get his sentence out.

“Uh, yer, it would appear so.”

“What the hell did you do to her man?”

Sam held his hands up defensively. “I didn’t do anything! At least I don’t think I did. Things were good last time, we email and message while we’re on the road. I don’t understand what’s going on.”

An awkward silence filled the cabin while the boys each contemplated the exchange.

“Did she sound a little flat to you?” Dean asked, starting to grow concerned.

“I dunno, a little I guess. Maybe this hunt’s taken a lot out of her, it’s been a while.”

“Do you… Nah.”

“What?”

“Well, do you think she was on a hunt? Really? Maybe she’s just avoiding us.”

Sam gave Dean a look, before leaning over and grabbing his laptop from the back seat. Dean kept his eyes on the road while Sam brought up the GPS tracker and put your number in.

“Dude, really? We’re stalking her now? She’s gonna kill you if she finds out you did this, you know that right?”

Sam didn’t answer as he watched the program track your phone, his heart dropping when it landed on the one place he never expected it would.

“Dean, how far away are we from Austin?” he asked as he stared at the screen, his voice sounding a little dangerous.

“Uhhh, a couple of hours. Give or take. Why, is she there?”

“Yer she’s, uh, she’s at Cornerstone Hospital.”

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3 hours later and you were finally done with your chemotherapy treatment for the day. You’d had a bout of nausea a little while ago but generally were starting to come good again. Knowing what happened last time though, you had about 45 minutes to get home before you could barely stand through the pain.

Waiting for the nurse to see you, you drummed your hands on the armrest while you looked around the room. A few people had come and gone in the time you’d been there, some having just a half-hour treatment. You were the youngest there you noticed, and you always got the pity-stare from the older patients when they walked in and saw you. So you kept to yourself… making friends with people at this stage in your life seemed relatively moot.

You were too busy reading a new poster on the wall to hear the heavy footsteps coming down the hall. You may have recognised them if you have been paying attention, you’d heard them on enough hunts in the past. A deep voice broke through your thoughts and turned your blood cold; if you hadn't still been connected to all the wires you might have tried to make a run for it. Instead you took a deep breath and turned to face the brothers. Neither had noticed you yet, their backs to you as they spoke to the nurse at the desk opposite. They were in their FBI gear which surprised you.

“Hello, we're looking for Y/N Y/L/N?” Dean asked in his professional voice.

Sam started looking around the room and before the nurse could point them in your direction, his eyes landed on yours. His jaw dropped as he took your frail form in, and before Dean could even turn around he was headed to you.

“Y/N, what the hell?” he cried, trying not to be too loud but he was obviously upset. Dean too came toward you, you don’t think you’d ever seen him look so worried before.

“Is everything ok here?” the nurse asked as she approached your chair, eyeing the men cautiously.

“Yer it’s all fine Tess, thanks for checking. Could we have a sec before you unhook me?” you asked her quietly. “I need to talk with my friends.”

She nodded with a warm smile and patted your knee gently before walking off to help another patient. You watched her leave, and sighed as you turned back to face the guys. Both were staring at you with mouths agape, and you rolled your eyes and gave a little huff of amusement.

“You guys wanna close your mouths? There’s a few flies buzzing around in here.”

“Don't joke Y/N, this isn't funny,” Dean scolded.

You hung your head. “You're right, I’m sorry. I don’t really know how to talk about this stuff.”

“How long has is been going on?” Sam asked, nearly in a whisper. The guy looked heartbroken, and you felt like dirt.

You rubbed your neck awkwardly, you knew they weren’t going to like the answer you had for them. “Umm, this is my second cycle of chemo.”

Sam tried to stay composed but your admission took him by surprise. “Wha- SECOND? You didn’t think to call me after the first? Why the hell haven't you said anything?” he whispered angrily, trying not to draw attention from the other patients. It was a futile effort though, there wasn’t much entertainment in the treatment room so all eyes were locked on the display.

“Sam please, not here,” you begged, tears starting to form in your eyes as you looked around.

“She's right Sammy,” Dean replied calmly, noticing the attention as well. “Let’s just get her home and we'll figure it all out then.” You let out a breath, thankful to Dean for taking control.

“Thank you. I have my car so I’ll just m-”

“Wait, you drove here?” Dean scolded loudly. Well, so much for having calm big brother on your side.

“Is there a problem with that?” you asked defensively.

“You barely look like you can walk Y/N, let alone drive. What are you thinking?” Dean chided, and your ears grew hot with anger.

“Excuse me?” you asked, your voice low and dangerous. He’d only heard you speak to one other person like that before and it was Crowley when he dared to called you “sweetcheeks”.

He sighed, realising he was out of line, and tried to back-pedal. “I just mean…”

“No, I know what you meant Dean. You know, just because I’m going through this doesn’t make me a damn invalid. And sure I’ve lost a little weight and my hair’s a bit thinner but hey, that’s what’s gonna happen when my body is being pumped with poisoned to kill the asshole tumour growing in my noggin. But none of that really matters because I’ll probably be dead in a few months time anyway.”

As the conversation had become more and more heated the nurse was quietly and graciously removing your IV, she could clearly see this conversation was uncomfortable for you and wanted you to have the option to remove yourself from it if need be. It was all you needed to get up off your chair and start walking out the door, leaving the brothers behind you.

“Go after her and I’ll call security,” you heard Tess warn, and if you hadn’t been pissed as fuck you would have smiled. You’d developed a good repore with her in the time you’d been in the hospital, and considered her your closest friend at this point in your life. No-one else knew about what you were going through, you had quit your job ages ago and were supporting yourself with your safely stored away inheritance. You were thankful to not hear heavy footsteps following after you, and headed quickly to your car to head home. You didn’t know if you’d have enough of a head start to beat them.

----------------------------------------------

You were panting by the time you reached your front door. The headache had started on the way home and the stress of what had just transpired with the brothers was becoming too much in your state. You grabbed your keys out of your bag but your eyes became blurry, and you leaned your forehead against the door frame as you rubbed the bridge of your nose. Staying where you were you looked down as you found the key you needed, and gently leaned over to put it into the door. The roar of the Impala came around the corner and you groaned… why couldn’t they just give you a little time to process? Bloody men!

To your annoyance the key wasn’t fitting in the lock and you threw your hands up in the air in frustration, your head still resting on the door frame. You heard them pull up to your sidewalk and quickly tried to find the key you needed, only to drop them on the ground.

“What the fuckity fuck!” you cried out loud, stomping your foot in frustration like a 5 year old. You gave up and slumped on the sun chair by your front door, holding your head in your hands with your elbows on your knees. The car doors slammed and you could hear them walking up the path to your front porch.

“Y/N?” Sam called out when he saw you, and when you made no move to greet them he and Dean quickly raced to your side. “Hey, Y/N, you OK?” he asked, brushing the hair behind your ear.

“Stupid fucking key wouldn’t go in the stupid fucking lock,” you told him bitterly, and you heard Dean pick them up.

“I see the brain tumour hasn’t dampened your potty mouth,” Dean told you wryly, and you lifted your head gently to look at him.

“Did you just joke about my cancer?” you asked him with a smirk. He cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable with the mention of the C word, but he pushed through it and gave a tight smile.

“Do you need Sam’s help to get inside?”

“Um, I don’t think so. I think I’ll be ok, thanks,” you responded, giving Sam a smile as you stood. You screamed at yourself internally when your left knee buckled, and quick as a flash Sam’s arms were around you.

“Y/N?” he asked, sounding more scared than you liked to hear from him. You closed your eyes and nodded, swallowing thickly.

“I’m ok, just tired. Maybe I could use the help after all,” you admitted, not daring to meet his gaze. You were grateful when he didn’t swoop you into his arms, instead wrapping your arm over his shoulder and supporting you as you walked into your living room together. Dean grabbed your bag and put it on the floor by the door as he closed it, following you both.

Once Sam had you seated on the couch he took the spot next to you, Dean opting to lean against the wall instead.

“Do you need anything?” Sam asked, watching you carefully.

You shook your head. “I’m ok. You guys help yourself though, there’s some beer in the fridge I think.” When Dean’s jaw clenched you gave a small smile. “I keep it there for you guys, I’m not drinking I swear.”

He relaxed and nodded, crossing his arms over his chest letting the room fall into an uncomfortable silence. You found yourself picking at your sweater sleeve as you considered your next move.

“Thank you,” you told them quietly. “For not making me feel completely useless right now. I’m sorry I blew up at the hospital, that wasn’t fair.”

“No, you’re under a lot of stress, we get it,” Sam told you kindly, and you shook your head.

“You didn’t deserve that. What you did deserve to know was that I’m sick, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just didn’t know how, I tried so many times but it just wouldn’t come out.”

“It’s a, uh, brain tumour?” Dean asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Yer, found out about a couple of months ago I think. I dunno, the days are starting to run together a little bit.”

“What do the doctors say?” Sam asked, and you could hear the reluctance as he did. He didn’t want to know this anymore than you didn’t want to tell him. You sighed, and looked up to meet their gaze.

“It’s aggressive, growing fast and they can’t operate right now. They’re trying to slow it down and hopefully shrink it with chemo before looking at surgery as an option, but because of where it’s located and the speed that it’s growing they think there’s only a 5% chance they’ll be able to remove it before it… before it, ah…” you stumbled, clearing your throat as your eyes started to fill with tears. Shaking your head slightly, you swallowed down the massive lump in your throat before continuing. “I probably won’t make it, is basically what I’m trying to say.”

Silence filled the room, and you let it this time. You were beyond exhausted, the treatment and this conversation were draining the very last of your energy. Despite your best efforts your eyelids began to droop, you barely noticed when you started to slide toward the cushions. Gentle murmurs barely broke through your haze, and you couldn’t find the energy even to acknowledge the one of them who lifted you up bridal style and carried you up the stairs to your bedroom. The fluffy pillows and quilt enveloped you, and without ever opening your eyes you drifted off to sleep.

-----------------

Sam stood at your bedside, watching you sleep. He'd never seen you looking so vulnerable, and it was scaring the crap out of him. This wasn't a monster he could fight for you, not a battle he could try and win on your behalf. This was the one thing no hunter ever expected to die from, knowing it would simply be too cruel an irony to befall them. And yet here you were: half the size you used to be, pale as a ghost and so frail you could barely stand. He stayed watching you for a while, making an easy decision in the process. Regardless of what Dean thought, he wouldn't be leaving this house without you again.

“Hey, did she stay asleep?” Dean asked as Sam came down the stairs and through to the kitchen. He had cracked a couple of beers and was currently whipping up some pancakes, their first home cooked meal since the last time they were in your house 3 months ago.

“Yer. Um, Dean, we need to talk-”

“So I was thinking that Y/N might be better off in the downstairs bedroom,” Dean started, cutting Sam off. “If she wants to that is. Just makes sense with the chemo kicking her in the ass so bad. You could take the study next to her so one of us is nearby, and I could take her room. Or vice versa, I don’t mind. Oh, and I had a quick look and there's a job going at a garage a few blocks from here, figured I could go out after we ate something and see if they'll take me on. Thought you’d rather be home for Y/N to take her to appointments and such, so no need to find you a job. We can figure out the rest when she wakes up. Now, do you want strawberries or blueberries with your pancakes?”

As Dean turned around holding two plates of stacks he found Sam staring at him like he was possessed. Dean rolled his eyes and took the plates to the dining table, heading back to the fridge for the toppings leaving Sam to catch up.

“So… you want to stay?” Sam asked incredulously.

“Why is that so hard to believe?” Dean asked defensively as he sat down, quickly shoving a large bite of pancake into his mouth.

“I dunno,” Sam shrugged. “I guess I just wasn’t expecting you to go all apple pie life on me.”

“This is for Y/N. She's saved our lives more times than I can count, now it's our turn to save hers. She's family,” he said with finality, gently pushing Sam’s plate toward him and gesturing for him to sit down. Sam smiled broadly and did as requested, mentally planning out the new life they were making for themselves.

CONT.

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SERIES MASTERLIST - CHAPTER TWO 

Tag Lists (Open)

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